The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned renowned actor Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu for questioning in connection with a money laundering investigation involving the Surana Group and Sai Surya Developers, both real estate firms. The agency has directed Mahesh Babu to appear before it on Sunday.
Investigations have revealed that the actor received over Rs 5.5 crore for endorsing the Surana Group. Additionally, Sai Surya Developers paid him Rs 5.9 crore for promotional activities—Rs 2.5 crore in cash and Rs 3.4 crore via cheque. The ED is now examining the payments made to the actor as part of its larger probe.
During recent searches at the offices and properties linked to the Surana Group, Sai Surya Developers, and Bhagyanagar Properties, officials uncovered unaccounted transactions worth Rs 100 crore and seized Rs 74.5 lakh in cash.
Key evidence, the ED said, was found at the homes of Surana Group Chairman Narendra Surana and Managing Director Devendar Surana in Madhapur, Jubilee Hills, and Bowenpally. Crucial documents were also recovered from the offices of Sai Surya Developers.
The ED has accused the Surana Group of running a large-scale fraud under the pretense of real estate development. In a statement, the agency said it had carried out searches at four locations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad last Wednesday.
The investigation stems from multiple FIRs filed by the Telangana Police against Narendra Surana, K Sathish Chandra Gupta of Sai Surya Developers, and others. They are accused of cheating unsuspecting investors out of large sums by accepting advances for plots through fraudulent schemes.
According to the ED, the accused misled buyers by creating unauthorized land layouts, selling the same plots to multiple customers, accepting payments without formal agreements, and making false promises regarding plot registration.
“These fraudulent activities led to significant financial losses for investors,” the agency said. “The accused generated illicit funds which were then laundered for personal and business gains.”
The searches, it added, resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents detailing how funds were collected from investors through illegal means, along with unaccounted cash transactions totaling around Rs 100 crore. The investigation remains ongoing.