India, April 22 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned popular Indian actor Mahesh Babu, who is one of the highest-paid stars in the country, to appear before it by April 27 in connection with the Sai Surya Developers and Surana Group money laundering case, media reports said.

The companies are allegedly involved in money laundering.

ED sources told The New Indian Express that the actor, who is a brand ambassador for the real estate project, reportedly received INR 5.9 crore (USD 693,193) for endorsing it.

The ED alleged that the money collected from customers by the companies was obtained through fraudulent means, the newspaper reported.

ED officials said the actor might not be directly associated with the scam, but the mon...