Hyderabad: Tollywood superstar Mahesh Babu has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 28 in connection with a high-profile real estate scam involving two Hyderabad-based companies. The investigation centers on allegations of money laundering and fraud, with the ED examining suspicious financial transactions linked to the actor’s brand endorsements.
The two real estate firms in question — Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group — are accused of defrauding multiple buyers by promoting dubious projects. Authorities believe these companies laundered large sums of money under the guise of property investments, leaving several homebuyers in financial distress.
Mahesh Babu, one of the biggest names in South Indian cinema, is reported to have endorsed real estate projects developed by the aforementioned firms. According to insider reports, the actor received a total of ₹5.90 crore for his promotional commitments — ₹3.40 crore via cheque and the remaining ₹2.50 crore in cash. The latter portion of the payment has now drawn scrutiny from the ED as they suspect it could be linked to laundered money funneled through the developers’ fraudulent operations.
While Mahesh Babu is not believed to be directly involved in the scam, ED officials assert that his endorsement of the projects gave them significant credibility and played a role in encouraging potential buyers to invest.
As of now, Mahesh Babu’s team has not issued an official statement in response to the ED summons or the allegations surrounding the cash payment.
On the Work Front:
Mahesh Babu is currently gearing up for his next big release, a massive collaboration with acclaimed director SS Rajamouli. Tentatively titled SSMB29, the film is already generating significant buzz due to its ambitious scale and star-studded cast.
The project marks the return of Priyanka Chopra to Indian cinema after over six years. Her last appearance in a Bollywood film was in The Sky Is Pink (2019). Prithviraj Sukumaran is also reportedly part of the ensemble cast. Recent reports suggest that portions of the film were shot in Odisha just last month, although specific details about the plot and production remain tightly under wraps.
