Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu has found himself in legal trouble as India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned him for questioning in connection with a money laundering case. The actor has been asked to appear before the ED on April 27.
According to multiple Indian media reports, the case involves two Hyderabad-based real estate companies—Sai Surya Developers and the Surana Group—who are accused of large-scale financial fraud. Many people allegedly lost their savings after investing in these firms. Mahesh Babu, being the brand ambassador for one of the companies, is now under ED’s scanner.
As per investigation findings, Sai Surya Developers reportedly paid Mahesh Babu around ₹6 crore—with ₹3.5 crore transferred through official banking channels, while ₹2.5 crore was allegedly paid in cash. ED suspects that the cash payment could be part of the illegally acquired money tied to real estate scams.
On April 16, the ED carried out raids at four locations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad as part of the investigation. The case is being pursued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Though Mahesh Babu is not directly accused of fraud, the ED believes that his association with the project as a promotional face encouraged people to invest, many of whom later fell victim to alleged scams. The questionable cash payment is also a key reason why ED wants to question him.
Investigators maintain that as the public face of the controversial real estate venture, Mahesh Babu’s statements could be crucial to understanding the full scope of the financial irregularities, estimated to involve over ₹100 crore.