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Superstar Mahesh Babu has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering investigation involving two Hyderabad-based real estate companies—Sai Surya Developers and the Surana Group. The actor has been asked to appear before the ED on April 27, 2025, as part of the ongoing probe.
Endorsement Deal Under Investigation
According to a report by The Times of India, Mahesh Babu allegedly received ₹5.9 crore for endorsing real estate projects developed by Sai Surya Developers. Of this amount, ₹3.4 crore was paid via cheque, while ₹2.5 crore was reportedly paid in cash—a transaction now under the ED’s scanner for possible links to money laundering.
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ED Suspects Proceeds of Crime
Sources within the ED suggest that the payment made to the actor may be connected to proceeds of crime. Investigators are particularly focused on the cash component, which they believe could have originated from fraudulent activities by the developers. Mahesh Babu’s endorsement is said to have boosted public trust in the projects, leading many buyers to invest—allegedly without knowledge of the underlying scams.
Background: FIRs and Developer Raids
The investigation gained momentum after the Telangana Police filed FIRs against Sai Surya Developers and the Surana Group. The complaints allege that the companies cheated investors by selling plots in unauthorised layouts, reselling the same plots to multiple buyers, and promising guaranteed registrations. Key individuals named include Narendra Surana, director of Bhagyanagar Properties Ltd., and K Sathish Chandra Gupta, owner of Sai Surya Developers.
The ED has also raided multiple properties associated with the developers and reportedly uncovered suspicious transactions totaling nearly ₹100 crore.
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Mahesh Babu’s Current Projects
The actor, who recently returned from a family vacation in Rome, is currently working on his next film, tentatively titled SSMB29. Directed by SS Rajamouli, the film stars Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran, marking a high-profile collaboration that has already generated significant buzz.
