ED Summons Mahesh Babu: Money Laundering Probe

Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned popular actor Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu in a money laundering case linked to realty groups Surana Group and Sai Surya Developers. The agency has asked Mr Babu to appear for an inquiry on Sunday. The actor, it was found, received over Rs 5.5 crore for appearing in advertisements for the Surana Group. Sai Surya Developers paid Mr Babu Rs 5.9 crore, including Rs 2.5 crore in cash and Rs 3.4 crore via cheque, for promotional activities. The Enforcement Directorate will investigate the remuneration paid to Mr Babu. During searches at Surana Group's affiliated companies, Sai Surya Developers and Bhagyanagar Properties, officials of the agency have uncovered illegal transactions worth Rs 100 crore and seized Rs 74.5 lakh in cash. Key evidence, the agency has said, was found at the residences of Surana Group chairman Narendra Surana and Managing Director Devendar Surana at Madhapur in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills and Bowenpally. Evidence has also been gathered from the offices of Sai Surya Developers. The Enforcement Directorate has said Surana Group engaged in a massive fraud under the guise of real estate ventures. The agency said in a statement that they searched four premises in Hyderabad and Secunderabad last Wednesday as part of their probe. "ED initiated investigation on the basis of several FIRs registered by Telangana Police against Narendra Surana, Director of M/s Bhagyanagar Properties Ltd., K Sathish Chandra Gupta, Proprietor of M/s Sai Surya Developers