The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a summon to Mahesh Babu to attend a formal inquiry about a money laundering case related to real estate companies Surana Group and Sai Surya Developers. The Guntur Kaaram actor has been asked to appear for the inquiry on Sunday, April 27.
Reportedly, the agency uncovered illegal transactions worth nearly Rs 100 crore during official searches at Surana Group, Sai Surya Developers and Bhagyanagar Properties on Wednesday, April 16. Additionally, the agency also seized unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 74.5 lakh from the premises of Narendra Surana and companies under Surana Group. It is to be noted that Mahesh Babu received a remuneration of Rs 5.5 crore and 5.9 crore from Surana Group and Sai Surya Developers respectively, for making appearances in their advertisements and promotional activities. The remuneration Mahesh Babu received from Sai Surya Developers — including Rs 2.5 crore in cash and Rs 3.4 crore via cheque — will reportedly be the focal point of the investigation, where links between the funds collected from the company’s fraudulent activities and the legality and course of the cash component will be investigated.
The investigation was initiated by ED following many FIRs registered by the Telangana Police against K. Sathish Chandra Gupta, proprietor of Sai Surya Developers, and Narendra Surana, director of Bhagyanagar Properties Ltd., among several others for allegedly failing to honour their agreements after collection of advance payments for plots.
