Dino Morea, brother Santino grilled by EOW in Mithi river desilting case

Police said the Morea brothers were summoned after EOW came across phone records indicating they had been in contact with some people linked to the case

MUMBAI: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police on Monday questioned actor Dino Morea and his younger brother Santino in connection with alleged irregularities in the awarding and execution of contracts to desilt the Mithi river.

Bollywood actor Dino Morea during the screening of film 'Kesari Chapter 2' in Mumbai on April 17 (PTI FILE)

The two brothers were questioned for eight hours, from 11 am to 7 pm, on Monday, officers said. They were summoned after investigators came across phone records indicating they had been in contact with some people linked to the case, said a police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The officer added that Santino Rocco Morea and Punita Kadam, wife of one of the arrested accused, Ketan Kadam, were directors in a private company, UBO Ridez Private Limited, which operates Victoria-style electric carriages in Mumbai.

"Ketan has already been arrested by us in the Mithi River desilting matter,” said the police officer. “We suspect Dino introduced Ketan to various people. We asked the Morea brothers various questions, and they told us they would get back to us with answers. They will join the investigation again on Wednesday.”

The officer added that the police have found and are verifying some financial transactions between Punita Kadam and Santino Morea. They are also investigating how Ketan Kadam’s desilting services company, Woder India LLP, got various civic contracts.

Ketan Kadam, who was arrested on May 7, was among 13 people booked by the EOW for allegedly causing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) a loss of ₹65.54 crore in connection with the Mithi river desilting project. The fraud involves alleged financial irregularities, inflated tenders, and corrupt practices linked to desilting work for the Mithi River. Along with Kadam, the EOW also arrested Jayesh Joshi, who is associated with Virgo Specialties Pvt Ltd, a Mumbai-based industrial product manufacturer.

According to the EOW, some BMC officials travelled to Kochi in October 2020 to buy desilting equipment from Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd and, subsequently, floated tenders inviting bids for desilting.

However, the machines' specifications matched Matprop’s equipment, which essentially forced contractors to use its machines. Also, the tender said the BMC would pay contractors according to the weight of the silt and dredge removed from the river.

When contractors approached Matprop, they were directed to approach Joshi and Kadam, who, in connivance with the company, did not sell the equipment but rented it at inflated rates, said the police.

The investigation in the case was started last year when EOW set up a special investigation team in August 2024 after BJP leaders Prasad Lad and Pravin Darekar raised questions in the state legislative council about alleged irregularities in desilting the 17.84-km-long river.

According to EOW officers, the civic body continued to fudge records to increase the amount of silt to be removed from the Mithi river to benefit the contractors and the rates that they were supposed to be paid.