Tollywood superstar Mahesh Babu has reportedly received a notice from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), asking him to appear for questioning at their office on the 27th of this month. The development has stirred a minor buzz in the Telugu film industry.
The case pertains to Mahesh Babu's past endorsement of a real estate company named Sai Surya Developers.
The ED recently conducted raids on this firm and its associated entity, the Surana Group. During the investigation, officials came across financial records indicating payments made to Mahesh Babu.
According to sources, the actor was paid ₹5.9 crore to promote the company. While a portion of the amount was transferred to him via online channels — with no issues raised regarding that transaction — the remaining was allegedly paid in cash, which has raised concerns with the ED.
The agency has issued the notice to question Mahesh Babu about the nature of these payments, particularly the cash component.
Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group are under scrutiny for alleged financial irregularities.
The ED suspects multiple violations, including illegal layout developments, selling the same plots to multiple buyers, collecting money without formal agreements, and misleading buyers with false promises.
So far, the ED is investigating questionable transactions totaling over ₹100 crore, which include payments made to Mahesh Babu as part of the endorsement deal.
