Money Laundering: ED Issues Notice To Actor Mahesh Babu (Photo on X @urstrulyMahesh)
Hyderabad: Prominent Tollywood actor Mahesh Babu is reported to be in the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s eye as the central probe agency recently issued summons to the Sarkaru Vaari Paata actor in connection with a money-laundering case.
The case is related to the Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group involved in money laundering and illegal activities. The actor is a brand ambassador for the real estate project, who reportedly received Rs 5.9 crore for endorsing them.
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Last week, the ED conducted searches at the offices and residences of the managing directors and staff of Surana Group and Sai Surya Developers across Jubilee Hills in Secunderabad and Bowenpally. The officials suspect that the Surana Group used fabricated documents to secure loans from Chennai-based banks. The ED also seized Rs 74 lakh in cash and documents related to the money-laundering allegations during the raid.
The ED has asked the actor to appear before April 27. However, the agencies have stated that the actor may not be directly connected to the scam, adding that the payment he received is under scrutiny since it may be linked to laundered funds.
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Notably, Surana Group is currently facing multiple criminal cases, including one under investigation by the CBI, related to cheating and breach of trust. The group is accused of collecting Rs 3 crore from a software engineer for plots that were reportedly already sold in one of the cases.
