South Indian actor Mahesh Babu has been called in by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He has been asked to appear on April 27 as part of a big investigation. The case is about money laundering and involves two real estate companies based in Hyderabad. These companies are being accused of cheating people who wanted to buy homes and properties.
Mahesh Babu’s name has come up because he did an endorsement for one of these companies. Reports say he received Rs 5.9 crore from a company called Sai Surya Ventures for promoting their real estate projects. While celebrities often do such promotions, what makes this case serious is that the ED believes this money might have come from illegal activities.
According to the ED, out of the total Rs 5.9 crore, Rs 3.4 crore was paid to the actor through cheque, but the remaining Rs 2.5 crore was allegedly paid in cash. This has raised questions, especially because the ED suspects that the cash could be linked to laundered money, which means money that was obtained in a dishonest way and then made to look clean.
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What the Case Is About
The ED’s investigation is part of a wider probe into a scam where real estate companies are believed to have tricked buyers. Two main companies are under the spotlight — Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group. Several people reportedly invested their hard-earned money in projects promoted by these companies, but were later left without the promised homes or properties.
The investigation started after the Telangana police registered complaints from buyers. These complaints mentioned false promises, unfinished projects, and misused funds. As the case progressed, more details came out about large sums of money being moved around, some of which are suspected to be part of a money laundering scheme.
Officials from the ED have now turned their attention to the payments made to Mahesh Babu for his endorsements. While the actor may not be directly involved in the fraud, his role in promoting the company is being closely looked at. This is because many people chose to invest in the project after seeing a big celebrity endorse it.
Celebrity Link Raises Eyebrows
Mahesh Babu is one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema and has a massive fan following. His presence in advertisements and promotions often builds a lot of trust among the public. In this case, however, the ED is trying to find out if the money he received was clean or if it came from dishonest means.
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As per the reports, the company Sai Surya Developers gave the actor Rs 5.9 crore for promotional work. While a part of it was paid officially through a bank, the rest in cash is what has triggered alarm bells. Accepting large amounts in cash is considered risky and is often checked by authorities for possible money laundering.
The ED is also looking into how the money was sourced and why it was paid in cash. They want to find out if this was done to hide the origin of the money. The summons sent to Mahesh Babu is part of this deeper investigation. He is expected to answer questions and provide clarity on the payment details.
The investigation is not just focused on the actor. Key people from the real estate companies are already under the radar. These include top directors and business heads who are accused of running misleading campaigns, taking money from buyers, and not delivering what was promised.
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Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu is currently busy with the shoot of his new film, SSMB29, where he stars alongside Priyanka Chopra. This film is being directed by the popular filmmaker SS Rajamouli and also features actor Prithviraj Sukumaran. Despite the ongoing investigation, work on the film continues as scheduled.
The ED is expected to gather more information after the actor appears before them on April 27. For now, all eyes are on what happens next in this high-profile case.
