Mithi river desilting scam: Actor Dino Morea appears before ED in ₹65 crore probe

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Dino Morea appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged ₹65 crore Mithi river desilting scam, officials confirmed.

Morea arrived at the ED's office in Ballard Estate, south Mumbai, around 10:30 a.m. after being summoned by the federal agency. His statement is being recorded in relation to financial transactions that have surfaced during the investigation, allegedly linking him to some of the accused who were previously arrested by Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

A heavy media presence was observed outside the ED office as the 49-year-old actor made his way in.

This was not Morea’s first interaction with the agency. He was earlier questioned for several hours by ED officials on June 12.

ED conducted multi-city searches

The investigation, being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), follows a May FIR filed by Mumbai Police's EOW. The complaint names 13 individuals, including civic officials and contractors, for allegedly siphoning off ₹65.54 crore through irregularities in tenders issued between 2017 and 2023 for the Mithi river desilting project.

On June 6, the ED carried out raids at over 15 locations in Mumbai and Kochi, including Morea’s Bandra (West) residence, as well as properties linked to his brother, Santino Morea. Sources said the probe also extended to premises associated with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and private contractors.

The Kochi connection stems from a company named Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd, which supplied desilting machinery to the BMC and is based in the city.

Political and financial links under scrutiny

The alleged scam has attracted attention due to its connections with high-ranking civic officials and political timelines. From 1997 until 2022, the undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray held control of the BMC. After the civic body's general body expired in 2022, it came under the purview of the state government led by Eknath Shinde.

According to the EOW's complaint, the BMC structured tender processes to favour a specific machinery supplier. The contractors allegedly raised fake bills for transporting sludge outside the city, allowing them to siphon off public funds.

Both Dino Morea and his brother Santino were questioned by the Mumbai Police EOW last month regarding their financial dealings and their alleged association with Ketan Kadam — an alleged middleman who was arrested alongside another accused, Jai Joshi.

Police say Kadam and Joshi were involved in renting out 'silt pusher' machines and amphibious pontoon equipment used in the desilting of the Mithi river. The desilting effort had been prioritised by municipal authorities following the 2005 Mumbai floods, which caused catastrophic urban flooding and highlighted the need for improved stormwater drainage.

Previous ED action against Morea

This is not the first time the actor has faced scrutiny from the ED. In 2021, the agency provisionally attached Morea’s assets during a probe into an alleged bank fraud involving Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech and its promoters.

(With inputs from PTI)