Dino Morea's Mumbai Home Raided by ED in Mithi River Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids across fifteen locations in Mumbai and Kochi on Friday, linked to the Mithi River Desilting case. These searches, part of an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), included the Mumbai residence of Bollywood actor Dino Morea, as well as properties belonging to his brother, contractors, and middlemen. Further details regarding the raids are pending.

Dino Morea was recently questioned by Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) regarding the Mithi River Desilting case. The questioning followed the discovery of numerous calls between Dino, his brother Santino Morea, and Ketan Kadam, a key suspect. Authorities are currently scrutinizing the nature and content of these communications.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) discovered that ?18 lakh was transferred to UBO Ridez, a company where Santino Morea, Dino Morea's brother, is a director. Police officials stated that Ketan Kadam, a primary suspect, made the transfer. "We are investigating the reason for the transfer of funds from Ketan Kadam’s account to UBO Ridez," an officer from the EOW told The Times Of India.

Ketan Kadam, linked to Vodar India LLP, was arrested earlier this month for his alleged involvement in the Mithi River desilting scam. Investigators found that both Vodar India LLP and UBO Ridez, an electric cart company, shared an address near Famous Studio in Worli, Mumbai.

The Mithi River desilting scam, a ?65 crore investigation by Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), involves alleged financial misconduct in the rental of silt pusher machines and dredging equipment by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The EOW alleges that contractors and BMC officials conspired to inflate equipment rental costs, causing a loss to the government and public. Several individuals, including contractors and intermediaries, have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

The case is part of a broader investigation into alleged financial mismanagement and corruption related to a key flood-prevention infrastructure project in Mumbai.