Bollywood Star Dino Morea Faces Scrutiny in Mithi River Desilting Scam Probe
Mumbai: Actor Dino Morea, accompanied by his brother Santino, was questioned by Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Wednesday in connection with an alleged ₹65 crore fraud involving the Mithi River desilting project. The siblings arrived at the EOW office in Mumbai around 1 p.m., where they faced extensive questioning until late evening. Morea, attempting to avoid media attention, was seen wearing a mask and dodging cameras upon arrival.
The investigation centers on claims of financial irregularities in the desilting initiative, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reportedly suffering a loss of ₹65.54 crore. Authorities allege that inflated tenders and corrupt practices related to the rental of dredging and silt-clearing equipment contributed to the scam. Ketan Kadam, arrested on May 7, is among 13 individuals implicated in the case, which involves suspected collusion with BMC officials.
Morea’s name surfaced during the probe due to multiple phone conversations with Kadam, a key accused in the scam. Financial transactions between Morea, his brother, and Kadam, spanning from 2019 to 2022, are currently under scrutiny. The officer noted that the siblings were asked to provide documents, which are now being verified. This marks the second instance this week that the Morea brothers have been summoned for questioning, having previously been interrogated for eight hours on May 26.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Dino Morea remains active in the entertainment industry. He recently attended the trailer launch for Housefull 5, a film set for release on June 6, 2025, featuring a star-studded cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Jacqueline Fernandez. Morea’s recent appearance in the web series The Royals alongside Zeenat Aman and Ishaan Khatter has also kept him in the public eye.
The EOW continues to investigate the financial trail and potential links between the Morea brothers and the accused, with further developments anticipated as the probe deepens.