Mahesh Babu seeks new date to appear before ED in alleged money laundering case
Hyderabad: Telugu actor Mahesh Babu, who was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has sought time to face questioning in connection with an alleged money laundering probe in Hyderabad.
In a letter to the probe agency, the Telugu actor sought postponement of the questioning by ED officials. He wrote that he would not be able to attend the hearing scheduled for Monday, April 28, due to prior shooting schedules and other commitments. The actor has requested the agency to issue a fresh date for his appearance. The Enforcement Directorate’s decision on this request is awaited.
The SSMB29 actor is under scrutiny for endorsing projects by Sai Surya Developers and the Surana Group, firms accused of duping property buyers.
According to ED officials, Mahesh Babu was paid Rs 5.9 crore for promoting Sai Surya Developers’ ventures. Of this, Rs 3.4 crore was transferred through cheque, while Rs 2.5 crore was allegedly paid in cash. Investigators suspect the cash payment could be part of laundered funds collected through fraudulent means.
The ED’s investigation is based on police complaints filed in Telangana against Narendra Surana, director of Bhagyanagar Properties Ltd., and K Sathish Chandra Gupta, owner of Sai Surya Developers. The two are accused of illegally collecting large sums from buyers by promising plots in unauthorized layouts, selling the same plots to multiple people, and giving fake registration assurances.
Officials say Mahesh Babu’s endorsement influenced many to invest in these projects, unaware of the alleged fraud. Although he is not believed to be directly involved in the scam, the ED is examining the financial transactions related to his promotional activities.
During searches on April 16, the ED reportedly recovered documents and evidence pointing to serious financial misconduct from premises linked to Narendra Surana and Sai Surya Developers. These documents reveal suspicious transactions amounting to over Rs 100 crore.
The agency is also preparing to seize properties bought with money earned through these illegal activities. Officials say funds from the scam were redirected to various associates, including public figures who were part of the firms’ promotional campaigns.
Mahesh Babu Writes to ED Officials: Explains Absence from Inquiry
Tollywood Actor Mahesh Babu has reportedly sent a letter to Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials explaining his absence from a scheduled inquiry. The ED had earlier issued notices to Mahesh Babu, summoning him… pic.twitter.com/eyOUBjCXT1
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) April 27, 2025
