The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Serilingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi for questioning in its money-laundering investigation into Sahiti Infratec Ventures India Private Limited (SIVIPL). The agency alleges that about ₹2.1 crore from the company passed through Gandhi’s bank accounts.
The ED issued the summons on Thursday and asked Gandhi to appear before it on September 27. Investigators are examining the purpose and nature of the transactions, along with properties linked to the alleged money trail.
The agency is also looking into whether the properties can be attached under the law if the investigation finds that the funds had no legitimate business basis. The allegations are part of the ED’s wider probe into SIVIPL and its promoters.
The investigation began after Telangana Police registered cases following complaints from homebuyers. They alleged that SIVIPL and its promoters collected money for proposed flats and villas but did not deliver the projects.
The initial cases involved allegations of cheating buyers of ₹248 crore across several projects. The ED later said its investigation estimated proceeds of crime at ₹842.15 crore.
SIVIPL managing director Boodati Lakshminarayana and former director Sandu Purnachandra Rao are among the key accused. The ED alleges that buyers were attracted through pre-launch offers for gated communities and that funds were diverted to personal and family accounts.
The agency has alleged that Rao misappropriated about ₹126 crore, including ₹50 crore received in cash between 2018 and August 2020. It alleges that some of the money was used to buy properties in the names of family members and associated people and entities.
During the probe, the ED conducted searches, froze bank accounts and attached assets worth ₹161.50 crore. It later attached another set of properties valued at ₹12.65 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Actor Jagapathi Babu, who appeared in company advertisements, was questioned as a witness; the ED later said his financial dealings with Sahiti Infra were largely legitimate and found no proceeds of crime linked to him.
