Dino Morea, BMC Officials Summoned by ED Over ₹65 Crore Mithi River Desilting Scam

Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at the premises of actor Dino Morea during a search linked to the Mithi River desilting scam, at Bandra (West) area, in Mumbai, on June 6, 2025

Actor Dino Morea, Brother Among Eight Summoned by ED in ₹65 Crore Mithi River Desilting Scam

At least eight individuals, including Bollywood actor Dino Morea, his brother Santino Morea, and several Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, have been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning next week in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged ₹65.54 crore Mithi River desilting scam, official sources confirmed on Saturday, June 7.

The summons follow extensive raids conducted by the ED on Friday, June 6, across more than 15 locations associated with the accused in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Kochi, Kerala.

“Eight to nine people, including Dino Morea, his brother Santino, and certain BMC officials, have been asked to appear at the ED’s Mumbai office on different dates next week,” a senior official said. Their statements will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the official added.

ED teams reportedly searched Dino Morea’s residence in Bandra (West), as well as properties linked to his brother, BMC officials, and contractors involved in the river desilting project.

The money laundering probe stems from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in May. The FIR named 13 individuals, including municipal officials and contractors, accusing them of manipulating tenders worth ₹65.54 crore between 2017 and 2023 for the desilting of the Mithi River—a key drainage channel running through Mumbai.

According to the FIR, BMC officials allegedly structured tenders to favor a specific machinery supplier. Contractors involved in the project are accused of raising fraudulent bills for the transportation of sludge from the riverbed.

The ED’s investigation also focuses on the Morea brothers' suspected links to Ketan Kadam, an alleged middleman arrested alongside co-accused Jai Joshi. Police say both were involved in renting out specialized machinery, including ‘silt pushers’ and amphibious pontoon machines, to the contractors.

Dino Morea, 49, has previously been questioned twice by the Mumbai Police EOW regarding the case. He and his brother were reportedly asked about their business connections with Kadam and financial dealings involving a company linked to Santino Morea.

This isn’t Dino Morea’s first brush with the ED. In 2021, the agency had attached his assets in connection with another money laundering investigation tied to an alleged bank fraud involving a Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company.