What Is The Mithi River Scam, In Which Actor Dino Morea Is Being Questioned? Explained

Bollywood actor Dino Morea is being questioned in the ₹65-crore Mithi desilting scam probe. Read all about it here.

Actor Dino Morea arrives at the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) office in Mumbai in connection with the Mithi river desilting scam case on Wednesday, May 28.

Source : PTI

Bollywood actor Dino Morea and his brother Santino Morea have landed in the crosshairs of a high-stakes investigation into an alleged scam related to the desilting of the Mithi river in Maharashtra.

On Tuesday, the Morea brothers answered to the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) summons and appeared before it for questioning as part of the alleged ₹65 crore Mithi desilting scam. The case involves financial irregularities, inflated invoices, and questionable civic contracts.

Where Is The Mithi River Located?

The Mithi River, often referred to as the lifeline flowing through the heart of Mumbai, is a 17.8-kilometre-long river in Maharashtra. Originating from the overflowing waters of Vihar and Powai lakes, it winds its way through some of Mumbai’s most densely populated and industrialised areas before emptying into the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek. It is a seasonal river.

Despite its modest length, the Mithi plays a crucial role in Mumbai’s drainage system, especially during the monsoon season when it channels rainwater away from the city’s streets and into the sea. Over the years, however, the Mithi has suffered from severe pollution, encroachment, and unregulated industrial waste disposal, turning it into a symbol of urban neglect and environmental concern.

Efforts to revive and clean the Mithi River have been ongoing since the devastating floods of July 2005, when the river's overflow was blamed for exacerbating the disaster that brought Mumbai to a standstill. Since then, various government bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), have launched multiple desilting and restoration initiatives aimed at improving water flow and reducing pollution levels.

These projects, however, have often been marred by delays, corruption allegations, and mismanagement, as in the latest alleged ₹65 crore desilting scam.

What Is The Alleged Mithi Desilting Scam?

At the centre of the EOW's investigation is the allegation that officials within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) — India's wealthiest civic body — may have colluded with private contractors to manipulate tenders and siphon off public funds.

The case revolves around the rental and use of specialised machinery, such as silt pushers and dredging equipment, meant for cleaning the Mithi. This desilting work is vital to prevent urban flooding during the monsoon, making any malpractice in this sector especially troubling.

According to investigators, the contracts for these services were not just overpriced; they were allegedly rigged to favour particular vendors. Thirteen individuals have already been booked in connection with the case.

Who Are the Main Accused?

Two names prominently featured in the probe are Ketan Kadam and Jayesh Joshi. Kadam, the director of Mumbai-based Woder India LLP, and Joshi, who is associated with Virgo Specialties Pvt Ltd, allegedly acted as intermediaries. Their role? Bridging the gap between machinery suppliers and the BMC while ensuring the civic body was billed inflated sums.

Police believe this elaborate scheme was orchestrated with the help of officials from BMC's Storm Water Drains (SWD) department, along with executives from a company called Matprop. The aim, as alleged, was to design the tenders in a way that only select suppliers, possibly linked to the accused, could qualify.

Dino Morea's Alleged Link

So, where does Dino Morea come into the picture?

Investigators discovered multiple phone calls between the actor, his brother Santino, and the key accused, Ketan Kadam. These communications prompted the EOW to summon the Morea brothers for questioning to determine whether they had any direct or indirect role in the financial dealings under scrutiny.

Though no formal charge has been filed against them yet, investigating officers said that Dino's name surfaced during a deep dive into call records and financial trails related to the scam. The police have stated that the evidence collected so far is still under examination.

Morea is slated to appear in the much-anticipated comedy 'Housefull 5', set to hit theatres on June 6. The star-studded cast includes Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Sanjay Dutt, and Jackie Shroff, among others.