ED Summons Mahesh Babu in High-Profile Real Estate Probe
The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) decision to summon Mahesh Babu jolted social media and Tollywood circles this week. The superstar has been called for questioning in a ₹100-crore money laundering case tied to two Hyderabad real estate heavyweights: Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group. On April 28, fans won't find him on a film set, but at the ED's Hyderabad office, answering tough questions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
This probe centers on a laundry list of alleged frauds: unauthorized land layouts, dual-selling the same plots to multiple buyers, and giving fake promises about registrations. The original spark for this inquiry was a police complaint filed in Telangana, with investors claiming they got swindled out of their money by projects that never materialized or operated outside regulations. Prominent names associated with these firms, including Sathish Chandra Gupta of Sai Surya and Narendra Surana of Bhagyanagar Properties, landed in the spotlight for running these questionable schemes.
Endorsement Fees and Suspicious Transactions Raise Red Flags
Where does Mahesh Babu fit in all this? The actor’s star power was used to promote projects like Sai Surya’s ‘Green Meadows.’ For this endorsement, he pocketed a hefty ₹5.9 crore. Breaking that down, ₹3.4 crore came in via official cheque braced by paperwork, but the remaining ₹2.5 crore turned up in cash—a move that the ED flagged instantly. While the agency emphasizes that Mahesh Babu isn’t an official accused, the stack of cash has raised suspicions of potential money laundering and illegal fund movement.
Investigators want to figure out if the actor knew the source of these funds or if he unwittingly became part of the firms’ tactics to appear credible and attract more investors. The concern isn’t just about flashy advertisements; it’s about whether celebrity endorsements end up legitimizing dodgy deals. Could fans and everyday investors have trusted these projects more because Mahesh Babu’s face was attached? That’s one of the angles under ED scrutiny.
The scale of the probe became obvious with the ED's recent raids in key Hyderabad neighborhoods: Secunderabad, Jubilee Hills, and Bowenpally. These weren’t just routine checks—agents were looking for evidence of fund diversion, paper trails connecting illegal cash payments, and details about how plots were marketed and sold. Several buyers who tried to secure their investments in these projects now face years of uncertainty, and the ED wants to map where all the money flowed—and why so much was off the books.
- Sai Surya Developers allegedly issued fake land registrations and false promises.
- Surana Group stands accused of duplicating property sales.
- Investors say they were lured in by high returns and prominent endorsements, only to lose their money.
- ED is focusing on the methods these companies used to hide or shift the money illegally.
For Mahesh Babu, this isn't just another public appearance. His testimony could offer clues about how these real estate firms recruited big names, paid massive sums—including large cash amounts—and designed their scams to look legitimate. The outcome may shake up both celebrity endorsements and big-bucks real estate marketing in Hyderabad for a long time to come.
