Actor Mahesh Babu allegedly received ₹ 5.9 crore as brand ambassador for project under fraud investigation
India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned actor Mahesh Babu to testify on April 27 as part of an investigation into an alleged money laundering scheme involving Sai Surya Developers and the Surana Group.
According to ED sources, the Telugu cinema star allegedly received approximately ₹ 5.9 crore (around USD 690,000) as part of a brand ambassador contract for a real estate project promoted by the companies under investigation.
Indirect link, but payment under scrutiny
While investigators emphasized that Mahesh Babu is not directly linked to the alleged scam, the payments made to the actor are under scrutiny as they may have originated from illicit funds.
The ED claims the companies fraudulently collected significant amounts of money from clients, and the funds may have been used to pay celebrities and influencers to lend credibility to the project.
Recent raids and seizures
In recent days, the ED conducted raids at the headquarters of Sai Surya Developers and the Surana Group, seizing around ₹ 74 lakh in cash and a series of documents related to the alleged money laundering practices.
The summons of Mahesh Babu adds a new layer of attention to the case, which is already drawing widespread media coverage in India, especially due to the connection between the entertainment industry and the real estate sector.
Source and images: Instagram @urstrulymahesh | newindianexpress. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
