Bollywood actor Dino Morea appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai on Thursday, June 19, 2025, concerning a money laundering investigation related to an alleged ₹65 crore scam involving the desilting of the Mithi River. This appearance follows a previous questioning session on June 12 and ED raids conducted on June 6 at over 15 locations, including Morea's Bandra residence and premises linked to his brother, Santino Morea, as well as several Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and contractors.
The ED's investigation is rooted in a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in May, which names 13 individuals, including contractors and BMC officials. The FIR alleges manipulation of tenders awarded between 2017 and 2023 for the Mithi River desilting project, a crucial initiative aimed at improving Mumbai's stormwater drainage and preventing floods. The ED suspects that contractors submitted false work completion reports to siphon funds intended for the project.
The Mithi River desilting initiative was launched after the devastating 2005 Mumbai floods to improve the city's drainage system. The ED's investigation suggests that irregularities and financial misconduct may have occurred during the project. Authorities are looking into inflated bills, fake work logs, and the possible diversion of funds.
Dino Morea's alleged involvement stems from suspected financial links to key individuals already arrested by the EOW. Investigators are also scrutinizing transactions involving a company connected to his brother, Santino Morea. The ED is trying to determine if Morea played a role in influencing contractors involved in the scam. According to police, middlemen Ketan Kadam and Jai Joshi, who have been arrested, allegedly played a key role in renting out ‘silt pusher’ machines and multi-purpose amphibious pontoon machines to contractors who were carrying out Mithi river desilting work. The Morea brothers were reportedly questioned about their alleged links with Kadam and other financial ties related to the case.
The ED's actions are based on the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), seeking to trace the proceeds of the alleged financial misconduct. Previous probes by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had also flagged possible financial misconduct linked to the desilting operations, prompting the ED to register a money laundering case.
Notably, Dino Morea's assets were previously attached in 2021 in connection with another money laundering probe linked to an alleged bank fraud case against Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company Sterling Biotech and its promoters.
The Mithi River, a vital drainage channel for Mumbai, gained national attention after the 2005 floods, underscoring the need for effective flood prevention measures. The ED's investigation aims to uncover the truth behind the alleged scam and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. The ED suspects that a network of contractors and middlemen may have been submitting false work completion reports to siphon off funds intended for vital infrastructure work.
