Full Breakdown
Dino Morea and the Mithi River Desilting Probe
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Bollywood actor Dino Morea was taken into custody on October 2, 2026 after nearly eight hours of questioning at his Bandra residence by Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities in contracts for the desilting and rejuvenation of Mumbai’s Mithi River, which the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claims cost it INR65.54 crore.
Background & Context
The Mithi River project was launched by the BMC and other civic agencies following the devastating 2005 Mumbai floods, aiming to clear sludge and improve flood-management capacity. Investigators allege that the tendering process was manipulated: BMC officials travelled to Kochi in October 2020 to purchase specialised equipment from Matprop Technical Services Private Limited, after which tender specifications were drafted to match that equipment, limiting competition. Contractors were then directed to intermediaries who allegedly rented the machinery at inflated rates, and records of silt removed were purportedly falsified to increase payments.
Timeline
- March 20, 2024 – EOW constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged scam.
- May 2025 – Dino Morea and his brother Santino Rocco Morea were first questioned after phone-record evidence linked them to the case.
- May 7 – Accused contractor Ketan Kadam was arrested; he is associated with Vodar India LLP, a firm tied to the desilting contracts.
- October 2, 2026 – Dino Morea was arrested after a second round of questioning; his brother’s company UBO Ridez Private Limited was examined for financial links to Kadam.
Data & Statistics
- Loss claimed: INR65.54 crore to the BMC.
- River length: 84 km (overall) with a 17.84-km stretch targeted for desilting.
- Financial transfers: INR18 lakh moved in multiple transactions from Ketan Kadam to UBO Ridez, where Santino Morea is a director.
- Arrests: Three individuals, including Ketan Kadam and Jayesh Joshi (Virgo Specialties Private Limited), have been detained.
Official Statements & Responses
Police have indicated that the tender specifications were deliberately aligned with equipment already procured from Matprop, effectively restricting contractor options.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We summoned [Dino] Morea after investigators came across phone records indicating contact with some people linked to the case.” — Hindustan Times
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Arrest vs. Summons: Some outlets (e.g., *Telegraph India*, *Indiatimes* Oct 2) report that Morea was arrested, while others (e.g., *Indiatimes* intro) state he was summoned for questioning after earlier inquiries in May 2025.
- Scope of Financial Links: Sources differ on the extent of alleged transactions; while several reports cite the INR18 lakh transfer to UBO Ridez, the precise purpose of those funds remains unverified.
- Role of Enforcement Directorate (ED): The ED’s involvement is noted, but details of its findings or any separate charges have not been disclosed publicly.
What’s Next
No specific hearing dates or further legal actions have been announced as of the latest reports.