Bollywood actor Dino Morea and his brother Santino were questioned for nearly eight hours by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police on Monday in connection with an alleged Rs 65 crore scam linked to the desilting of the Mithi River — a critical drainage lifeline for Mumbai.
The 17.8-kilometre-long Mithi River flows from the Vihar and Powai lakes to the Arabian Sea via the Mahim Creek. Following the devastating 2005 floods in Mumbai, which claimed over 1,000 lives, the river has drawn consistent attention due to heavy pollution and silt accumulation that hampers its stormwater-carrying capacity.
Despite numerous desilting efforts led by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) — India’s wealthiest civic body — persistent allegations of corruption, negligence, and ineffective work have marred the project. Earlier this month, the EOW registered a case against 13 individuals, including BMC officials and contractors, over a massive desilting scam.
Investigations reveal tenders for specialised dredging equipment were manipulated to favour certain suppliers. Fraudulent bills were allegedly generated for the transportation of sludge, often exaggerated or never carried out. The BMC is believed to have suffered losses exceeding Rs 65 crore, with one contract alone allegedly seeing inflated payments from Rs 8 crore to Rs 17 crore.
Two middlemen — Ketan Kadam and Jayesh “Jai” Joshi — have been arrested. Call records revealed frequent contact between Kadam and the Morea brothers, prompting the EOW to summon them. Kadam reportedly played a key role in orchestrating desilting contracts and equipment rentals.
While Dino and Santino Morea’s precise role remains unclear, their connection to the accused has placed them under official scrutiny. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of their involvement, if any, in the scam.
Source: NDTV
