Mithi river desilting scam: Actor Dino Morea appears for questioning as ED summons actor again
On Thursday morning, actor Dino Morea arrived at the office of the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai for another round of questioning in connection with the money laundering case involving Mumbai’s Mithi River.
Morea and his brother Santino were last summoned on June 12 after preliminary investigations showed that the duo was linked to the case related to the desilting of the Mithi River after noting alleged ties with intermediaries.
What is the Mithi River fraud case?
The issue arose as Mumbai’s Mithi River was subject to clearing of the accumulated sediments and debris on the riverbed to ensure the natural flow of water. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had requested rented equipment from Kochi-based company, Matprop Technical Services Private Limited in Maradu, but the company allegedly overcharged for its services.
Ketan Kadam and Jay Joshi, two intermediaries involved in the illicit transaction, were arrested in May, and later denied bail. Kadam is the director of Mumbai-based engineering firm Woder India LLP and Joshi is a Mumbai-based industrial product manufacturer associated with Virgo Specialties Pvt Ltd.
While also attempting to defraud the civil agency, Matprop Technical Services is also accused of colluding with three members of the BMC and allegedly embezzled Rs 65.54 crore from the municipal corporation.
How is Dino Morea connected to the case?
Preliminary investigations conducted by the ED concluded that Dino and Santino are close associates of Kadam. According to the Free Press Journal, the brothers were in frequent contact with Kadam after discovering text messages and phone calls linking both parties. According to reports, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) found that Rs 18 lakh was transferred to UBO Ridez—Victoria-style electric carriage provider in Mumbai—where Santino serves as a director.
Earlier this month, raids were conducted in Dino and Santino’s homes as well as searches at 18 locations across Mumbai, Kochi and Thrissur.
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