The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is raiding actor Dino Morea’s Mumbai residence as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the Mithi River desilting scam. The actor is reportedly present at the house, where ED officials have been conducting the search for over six hours.
The agency is carrying out coordinated raids at more than 15 locations across Mumbai and Kochi, targeting the premises of Mr Morea, his brother Santino, contractors, and others involved, according to PTI reports. The investigation falls under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The raid follows recent questioning of the actor and his brother by Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which grilled them for eight hours in connection with a ₹65 crore scam linked to irregularities in the river’s desilting project. Police sources say the brothers were in frequent contact with Ketan Kadam, one of the key accused, arrested last month, whose call records revealed their communication.
The Mithi River scam
The 17.8-km-long Mithi River, heavily polluted and prone to silt accumulation, came under scrutiny after the 2005 Mumbai floods. While repeated desilting efforts have been undertaken, the EOW recently uncovered alleged corruption involving municipal officials, a Kerala-based firm, and contractors, who stand accused of inflating costs and misreporting the actual work done.
A total of 13 people, including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and operators of silt-pushing machines, have been named in the case. The ED raids mark the latest development in the widening probe.