ED notice to actor Mahesh Babu in realty-linked money laundering case

Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned top Tollywood actor Mahesh Babu for questioning in connection with a money laundering case involving Hyderabad-based realty firms Surana Group and Sai Surya Developers.

The actor, who serves as the brand ambassador for both firms, has been asked to appear before the agency on April 27. As part of their investigation, the ED is examining payments made to Mahesh Babu, who reportedly received over ₹11 crore for promotional activities—₹5.5 crore from Surana Group and ₹5.9 crore from Sai Surya Developers.

The notice follows a recent series of raids conducted by the ED on April 17 at four locations across Hyderabad and Secunderabad under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. During these searches, the agency unearthed unaccounted cash transactions worth approximately ₹100 crore and seized ₹74.5 lakh in cash.

The ED initiated the probe based on multiple FIRs filed by the Telangana Police against Narendra Surana, Director of Bhagyanagar Properties Ltd., K. Sathish Chandra Gupta, Proprietor of Sai Surya Developers, and others. The FIRs include charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to defrauding and cheating investors.

According to the ED, the accused orchestrated large-scale fraudulent schemes that included creating unauthorised land layouts, selling the same plots to multiple buyers, collecting payments without proper agreements, and making false promises of registration. These actions allegedly caused significant financial losses to investors and generated illicit proceeds of crime.

The ED stated that the accused diverted and laundered the funds for personal gain and to benefit related entities. Incriminating documents recovered during the searches provide detailed evidence of the amounts collected through fraudulent means and the unaccounted cash transactions.

The case remains under active investigation.

With IANS inputs