Tollywood superstar Mahesh Babu has been asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 28. This summon is linked to an alleged real estate scam involving two Hyderabad-based firms.
Alleged Fraud by Hyderabad Builders
According to reports, two real estate groups—Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group—are accused of cheating property buyers and laundering money. They reportedly collected funds through illegal methods, raising serious concerns.
Mahesh Babu’s Endorsement Under ED Scanner
Mahesh Babu endorsed projects from both companies. In return, he received a total payment of ₹5.90 crore. Notably, ₹3.40 crore was paid via cheque, while ₹2.50 crore was handed over in cash.
Now, the ED is examining the cash portion of the payment. Officials suspect that this cash could be part of the money illegally collected by the builders. Therefore, they are checking if Mahesh unknowingly received laundered funds.
ED Clarifies Mahesh Babu’s Role
Even though the actor is not believed to be directly involved in the scam, the ED claims his endorsement had an impact. “While Mahesh might not be directly involved in the scam, him endorsing the projects encouraged several buyers to invest their hard-earned money into it,” the ED stated. So far, Mahesh Babu’s team has not released any statement in response to the summons.
Upcoming Project: SSMB29
Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu is currently working on an ambitious film with director SS Rajamouli. Titled SSMB29 for now, the movie is generating buzz for multiple reasons. Interestingly, the film marks Priyanka Chopra’s return to Indian cinema after six years. Her last Hindi film was The Sky Is Pink in 2019.
Film Shot on Grand Scale
The production team has kept key details under wraps. However, reports reveal that actor Prithviraj Sukumaran is also part of the cast. Moreover, a portion of the film was shot in Odisha just a month ago. SSMB29 is expected to release in theatres across India in 2026.
