Tue Apr 22 04:50:00 UTC 2025: **Tollywood Star Mahesh Babu Summoned in Money Laundering Probe**

HYDERABAD, INDIA – Popular Telugu actor Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in a money laundering case linked to real estate firms Surana Group and Sai Surya Developers. The ED has asked Mr. Babu to appear on Sunday.

The investigation centers on payments received by the actor for promotional activities. The ED alleges Mr. Babu received over ₹5.5 crore from Surana Group and ₹5.9 crore (including ₹2.5 crore in cash) from Sai Surya Developers.

The ED’s investigation into Surana Group and its affiliates, Sai Surya Developers and Bhagyanagar Properties, followed several FIRs filed by Telangana Police accusing the companies of defrauding investors through fraudulent real estate schemes. These schemes involved unauthorized land layouts, selling the same plots multiple times, and accepting payments without proper agreements.

Raids conducted last week yielded incriminating documents and ₹74.5 lakh in cash, indicating illegal transactions totaling approximately ₹100 crore. The ED’s statement highlights the companies’ alleged actions of generating proceeds of crime through deceitful practices, diverting and laundering funds for personal gain.

The ED’s questioning of Mahesh Babu will focus on the payments received for his promotional work and whether these transactions were linked to the alleged money laundering activities of the real estate firms. The investigation is ongoing.

Read More