Mahesh Babu summoned by ED in Rs 5.9 crore real estate scam; Alleged cash payment under probe

Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a high-profile money laundering case involving two Hyderabad-based real estate companies.Asked to appear before agency on THIS dateAccording to News 18, the actor has been asked to appear before the agency on April 27 as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities and fraudulent transactions.Mahesh Babu allegedly received Rs 5.9 croreThe probe revolves around Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group, who are accused of duping property buyers through deceptive practices. According to ED sources, Mahesh Babu had entered into an endorsement deal with Sai Surya Ventures and received a total of ₹5.9 crore for promoting their projects. Out of this amount, Rs 3.4 crore was reportedly paid via cheque, while Rs 2.5 crore was allegedly given in cash—raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the transaction.Cash paid via illegal means?Reportedly, the officials suspect that the cash component may have been paid using funds generated through illegal means. The Enforcement Directorate believes these could be proceeds of crime, potentially laundered through the real estate firms under scrutiny. The money trail and source of funds are being closely examined as the actor’s involvement is assessed in the broader context of the financial scam.The money laundering case itself stems from FIRs filed by Telangana Police against key individuals, including Narendra Surana, director of Bhagyanagar Properties Ltd., and K Sathish Chandra Gupta, owner of Sai Surya Developers. Both are facing allegations of large-scale cheating and diversion of investor funds.Mahesh Babu’s work frontMahesh Babu is currently busy shooting for SSMB29, a much-anticipated film that marks his first collaboration with director SS Rajamouli. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra and the 'L2: Empuraan' actor - director Prithviraj Sukumaran in pivotal roles. On the other hand, Mahesh Babu's previous outing was 'Guntur Kaaram' which unfortunately didn't impress the audiences and our review reads, "Guntur Kaaram is a film of contrasting qualities. While Mahesh Babu's vibrant performance stands as a highlight, the film struggles to weave these into a cohesive and emotionally impactful narrative. Despite its striking cinematography and moments of engaging humour, the lack of depth in the story leaves the audience wanting more."