New Delhi, April 22
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned actor Mahesh Babu for questioning on April 27 in connection with a money laundering case involving Hyderabad-based real estate firms Sai Surya Developers and the Surana Group.
It is being alleged that actor Mahesh Babu was paid Rs 5.9 crore for endorsing Sai Surya Developers: Rs 3.4 crore through official banking channels and Rs 2.5 crore allegedly in cash.
The ED has searched four locations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The raids led to the seizure of incriminating documents and unaccounted cash transactions worth around Rs 100 crore, including Rs 74.5 lakh in cash from the premises of the Surana Group, officials informed.
The investigation stems from multiple FIRs filed by Telangana Police against the Bhagyanagar Properties Limited director Narendra Surana, Sai Surya Developers proprietor K Sathish Chandra and others. They are accused of duping homebuyers by collecting large sums as advances for plots, without delivering on promises.
The ED investigation found that the accused had orchestrated fraudulent schemes involving unauthorised land layouts, selling the same plots to multiple buyers, accepting payments without proper agreements, and making false promises about plot registrations. The accused defrauded the public and generated illicit funds, which were then diverted and laundered for personal and corporate gain, officials further stated.
