The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday launched a series of coordinated raids across more than 15 locations in Mumbai and Kochi in connection with the alleged Rs 65 crore Mithi River desilting scam. Among the locations searched were the homes of Bollywood actor Dino Morea and his brother Santino Morea. The probe, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from a criminal case registered by the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
The ED is investigating financial irregularities linked to desilting operations of the Mithi River a 17.8 km-long waterway originating from the Vihar and Powai lakes and emptying into the Arabian Sea via Mahim Creek. The river has been a major focus of flood prevention efforts since the catastrophic Mumbai floods in 2005. Authorities allege the scam led to a Rs 65 crore loss to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with tenders for renting dredging machinery manipulated to benefit select contractors.
As part of its probe, the ED searched properties belonging to several contractors, middlemen, and BMC officials. The searches followed an FIR registered by the EOW against 13 individuals, including civic officials, private contractors, and representatives from a Kerala-based company. Investigators believe that payments were made for river-cleaning work that was never executed between 2007 and 2021.
Dino Morea was Recently Probed by Mumbai Police
Dino Morea and his brother were recently questioned by the Mumbai Police’s EOW for over eight hours, where their alleged ties to key accused Ketan Kadam came under scrutiny. Kadam, arrested earlier in May, reportedly had frequent communication with the actor, as revealed through call data records examined during the police probe. Another middleman, Jai Joshi, who is in the dredging equipment rental business, is also among those under the scanner.
The investigation is not limited to recent years. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is reviewing a much larger Rs 1,100 crore expenditure made between 2005 and 2021 for Mithi River desilting, in an effort to uncover wider instances of financial mismanagement. This includes reviewing the role of multiple civic departments and contractors in the misappropriation of funds allocated for the city’s flood-prevention infrastructure.
Reports indicate that Dino Morea’s proximity to political figures, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, has added a layer of political sensitivity to the case. While the ED has not officially named Morea as an accused, financial documents and other evidence seized during the raids are now being examined to trace the alleged laundering of funds.
The ED’s latest action comes amid mounting public concern over corruption and inefficiency in Mumbai’s infrastructure projects, particularly as the city braces for its annual monsoon season.
