Hyderabad: ED summons Telugu star Mahesh Babu in real estate money laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned popular Telugu actor Mahesh Babu for questioning in connection with a money laundering case tied to an alleged real estate fraud by local firms, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The 49-year-old actor has been directed to appear before the agency on April 28 at its regional office, where his statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to sources, as PTI reported.

Focus on Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group

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The case centers around Sai Surya Developers, a real estate firm based in Vengal Rao Nagar, along with the Surana Group and other associated entities. On April 16, the ED conducted raids at multiple locations, including Secunderabad, Jubilee Hills, and Bowenpally, as part of its investigation.

Also Read:Raids at Surana Group, Sai Surya Developers properties in Hyderabad's Secunderabad, Jubilee Hills, Bowenpally areas

Officials said Mahesh Babu is not currently under investigation as an accused. However, he allegedly received Rs 5.9 crore in cheques and cash as part of endorsement deals for the companies now under scrutiny. The agency suspects the actor may have promoted the firms’ projects without knowledge of the alleged fraud.

What is case all about?

The ED's investigation stems from a Telangana Police FIR against Sathish Chandra Gupta of Sai Surya Developers and Narendra Surana of Bhagyanagar Properties Ltd, among others. The complaint accuses them of defrauding unsuspecting investors by accepting advances for land plots without proper agreements, selling the same plots multiple times, and making false promises regarding registration.

According to the ED, these practices generated large sums of illicit money, which were allegedly laundered and redirected to benefit the accused and their associates. During the April 16 raids, officials recovered incriminating documents and evidence of unaccounted cash transactions worth nearly Rs 100 crore.

Among the seizures was Rs 74.5 lakh in unaccounted cash from the premises of Narendra Surana and the Surana Group, the agency added. Mahesh Babu has not publicly responded to the summons at the time of reporting.

(With inputs from PTI)