The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a summons for actor Mahesh Babu to appear for questioning on April 27 in relation to a money laundering investigation involving two real estate companies based in Hyderabad: Sai Surya Developers and the Surana Group.

Mahesh Babu is being investigated for his alleged involvement in promoting these companies' controversial real estate projects. According to sources within the ED, the actor received Rs 5.9 crore for endorsing Sai Surya Developers, with Rs 3.4 crore transferred through official banking methods and Rs 2.5 crore purportedly paid in cash.

The ED suspects that the cash component may be linked to criminal proceeds from fraudulent real estate dealings.

As part of the investigation, the ED's Hyderabad Zonal Office conducted searches on April 16 at four locations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The raids resulted in the seizure of significant evidence, including documents and illicit cash transactions totaling approximately Rs 100 crore. This includes Rs 74.5 lakh in cash seized from the Surana Group's premises.

The case follows multiple FIRs filed by Telangana Police against individuals such as Narendra Surana, the director of Bhagyanagar Properties Limited, and K Sathish Chandra, the proprietor of Sai Surya Developers. They are accused of swindling homebuyers by collecting large sums of money as advances for plots, but failing to deliver the promised properties.

Further investigation has revealed that the accused were involved in fraudulent schemes, such as selling the same land plots to multiple buyers, accepting payments without formal agreements, and making false claims about plot registrations. These actions have caused significant financial losses to investors, while illicit funds were allegedly diverted and laundered for personal and corporate benefit.