A major investigation into alleged financial irregularities in Mumbai’s Mithi River desilting project has once again brought Bollywood actor Dino Morea into the spotlight. The case, being investigated by the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW), concerns alleged irregularities in contracts associated with the cleaning and desilting of the river and an estimated loss of ₹65.54 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Recent reports have described Morea as being arrested after several hours of questioning, while the actor himself has denied that he was arrested and some reports said the EOW had not independently confirmed his detention.
The controversy has attracted considerable public attention because the Mithi River is closely connected with Mumbai’s recurring monsoon-flooding problems. After the devastating floods of 2005, authorities undertook extensive efforts to widen, deepen and desilt the river. The project subsequently involved numerous contractors, civic officials and agencies. The present investigation is examining whether public money allocated for this work was improperly utilised.
How the Investigation Developed
The EOW investigation has been examining alleged irregularities in contracts, inflated equipment-rental rates, payments and the actual execution of desilting work. According to reports, several individuals have already been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators have also examined transactions and communications involving people associated with the contractors under investigation.
Morea’s name entered the investigation before the latest questioning. He and his brother Santino Rocco Morea were questioned by the EOW in May 2025. Investigators had reportedly examined phone records showing contact with individuals connected to the case and were also looking into financial transactions involving companies associated with the people under investigation.
The case has also focused on Ketan Kadam, who was arrested in 2025. According to the Indian Express, Kadam and another individual, Jayesh Joshi, were among those arrested after being booked along with several others over the alleged ₹65.54-crore loss to the civic body. Investigators are examining the manner in which contracts were awarded and payments were processed.
Questions Over the Execution of Desilting Work
One of the significant aspects of the investigation concerns allegations that records submitted to demonstrate completed desilting work did not accurately reflect what had actually been carried out.
The Indian Express reported that contractor Shersingh Rathod was arrested in August after investigators alleged that fake photographs and videos were submitted to demonstrate removal of silt. His firm, Maideep Enterprises, reportedly submitted bills amounting to ₹29.63 crore, which were cleared by BMC officials. These allegations remain part of the ongoing investigation and will ultimately have to be established through the legal process.
Investigators have also examined the procurement and use of specialised desilting equipment. According to reports, BMC officials had travelled to Kochi in 2020 in connection with procuring equipment for the project. Such details form part of the broader effort to reconstruct how contracts, machinery, payments and actual field operations were connected.
Why Dino Morea’s Role Is Under Examination
The actor’s involvement is being examined primarily in the context of his reported connections with individuals and businesses linked to the investigation. Reports have referred to corporate relationships involving Santino Morea, Ketan Kadam and others. Investigators are examining financial transactions and communications to determine whether they have any relevance to the alleged irregularities in the civic contracts.
It is important to distinguish an investigation from a finding of guilt. Being questioned, summoned or arrested does not by itself establish criminal liability. The precise nature of Morea’s role, if any, will depend on the evidence collected by investigators and the subsequent judicial proceedings.
A Wider Concern for Mumbai’s Civic Administration
The case goes beyond the involvement of a well-known actor because it raises broader questions about the monitoring of large public infrastructure contracts. Desilting projects involve substantial public expenditure and require accurate measurement of work, reliable documentation, effective supervision and transparent payment systems.
If allegations concerning inflated bills, false documentation or incomplete work are established, they could raise serious questions about weaknesses in the mechanisms used to monitor civic contracts. Conversely, allegations that cannot be supported by evidence would have to be distinguished from proven wrongdoing.
What Lies Ahead
The investigation is expected to focus on financial records, communications, contractual documents and the relationships among the various individuals and companies connected with the project. Earlier questioning of Morea and his brother, along with the subsequent arrests of other accused persons, indicates that investigators are attempting to establish the wider network surrounding the alleged financial irregularities.
The latest developments therefore represent another stage in a continuing investigation rather than the final conclusion of the case. The legal process will determine the significance of the evidence gathered and the responsibility, if any, of individual accused persons.
For Mumbai, the larger issue remains the effective management of the Mithi River and the proper use of public funds allocated for its maintenance. The river continues to be an important part of the city’s flood-management infrastructure. The outcome of the investigation could therefore have implications not only for those named in the case but also for the transparency, supervision and accountability of future civic infrastructure projects.
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