By Tanveer Zaidi | Actor-Author-Educationist
MUMBAI — Actor Dino Morea, once a heartthrob of Bollywood known for his model looks and select filmography, has recently found himself embroiled in controversy as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigates a large-scale money laundering case linked to the alleged Mithi River desilting scam.
On June 6, the ED conducted coordinated raids at 16 locations—15 across Maharashtra and one in Kerala—targeting individuals and entities allegedly connected to financial irregularities in the Mithi river cleaning project.
Among those under investigation are actor Dino Morea, BMC assistant engineer Prashant Ramugade, and several contractors, machine suppliers, and intermediaries suspected of laundering funds under the guise of river desilting operations.
Though Dino Morea is not a direct beneficiary of the Mithi river contract, officials confirmed his business association with some of the key accused, including contractors involved in the desilting project.
His brother, Santino Morea, is listed as a director in UBO Ridez, a company that manufactures and operates electric carriages.
Notably, Santino shares the directorship with the wife of Ketan Kadam, a contractor arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for his alleged role in the scam.
UBO Ridez gained attention in March 2021 when it launched electric carriages to replace the traditional Victoria horse-drawn carts used for tourism in South Mumbai.
The initiative was inaugurated by then Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and was supported by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, with whom Dino Morea is known to share close ties.
According to the ED, the investigation follows an FIR filed by the EOW, which has already resulted in the arrest of Kadam and businessman Jay Joshi, owner of Virgo Specialities.
Joshi was granted bail on June 5. The FIR raises serious allegations of corruption, including document forgery and cartelisation among contractors tasked with desilting work on the Mithi river from 2013 to 2021.
Specifically, investigators allege that forged documentation was used to deceive the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) regarding silt disposal.
Additionally, the FIR cites irregularities in how contracts were awarded, with claims that bidding conditions were altered to favor contractors possessing specific machinery, effectively eliminating fair competition.
While Dino Morea’s role appears tangential at this stage, the actor’s involvement in a company associated with key figures in the scam has brought him under the ED’s radar.
His business ties to the accused have raised questions about the extent of his knowledge or participation in any alleged wrongdoing.
Morea, once a prominent face in early 2000s Bollywood, had gradually stepped away from mainstream cinema, citing typecasting and a lack of diverse roles. In recent years, he found renewed success on OTT platforms and entered into entrepreneurial ventures.
However, the current controversy marks a sharp turn in his public narrative.
The ED has yet to issue an official statement naming Morea as a primary accused.
However, investigations are ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks as authorities dig deeper into the financial transactions and partnerships tied to the scam.
The Mithi River desilting project has long been plagued by allegations of inefficiency and corruption. With federal agencies now involved, the case has taken on broader political and legal significance, drawing attention to the intersection of celebrity, business, and governance in Mumbai’s civic landscape.
