Mahesh Babu Drawn Into Hyderabad Real Estate Scandal Probe
When you hear Mahesh Babu’s name, you picture blockbuster movies walking away with awards, not news about real estate scandals or the Enforcement Directorate (ED). But this week, the story is different—he’s been summoned by the ED to answer questions about a money trail that looks murky, all linked to Hyderabad-based real estate groups: Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group.
Mahesh, 49, has been asked to appear before authorities on April 28. It all traces back to his role as brand ambassador for projects like 'Green Meadows,' which he promoted on behalf of Sai Surya Developers. On the surface, that’s standard practice for celebrities. Dig a little deeper, though, and questions pile up.
The ED zeroed in on a staggering ₹5.9 crore paid to Mahesh for his endorsement efforts. Most of that—₹3.4 crore—came through regular bank channels. But here’s the red flag: ₹2.5 crore supposedly exchanged hands in cash. For investigators, that wasn't just odd; it was suspicious enough to look for potential money laundering.
- ₹3.4 crore paid by cheque
- ₹2.5 crore paid in cash, according to ED findings
- Payments made while Mahesh Babu promoted Sai Surya Developers’ projects
So what makes this case so messy? It’s not really about the celebrities, but what they may be unknowingly endorsing. According to the probe, Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group are caught up in serious accusations: cheating investors, running unauthorized land layouts, offering the same plots to multiple people, and taking money without giving buyers proper agreements. There’s also talk about project delays and false promises, leaving buyers stranded and furious.
The drama escalated after raids on April 16 at fancy spots in Secunderabad and Jubilee Hills, targeting Sathish Chandra Gupta of Sai Surya Developers and Narendra Surana of Surana Group. The ED wants to piece together how much, if anything, Mahesh Babu understood about where his endorsement fees came from—and if those hefty cash payments outside the books signal a larger laundering operation.
For now, Mahesh isn’t facing accusations of fraud. ED officials say actors like him are often brought in for their face value, sometimes with no clue about what’s happening behind the scenes. Still, the investigation aims to check if those cash payments actually reflect a legitimate business deal or if they’re a smokescreen hiding money siphoned from cheated investors.
Investors Left in the Lurch
If you’re an average homebuyer in Hyderabad, this scam hits home. Many people trusted these firms with their life savings after seeing a superstar like Mahesh Babu attached to the project. The alleged scheme worked like this: people paid advances, received false or no agreements, then found out someone else had already bought the same plot. Promised handovers never happened, making buyers chase their own money in circles.
The ED’s investigation, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is chasing the paper trail. The agency wants to track if investor funds were funneled into personal gains, and if those celebrity endorsements were financed through cash siphoned off the defrauded victims.
For everyone watching—buyers, fans, the Telugu film industry—the big question is whether this will rewrite the playbook for celebrity endorsements in high-stakes real estate deals. As Mahesh Babu heads in for questioning, the story is just getting started.
