In a sweeping enforcement action, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on more than 15 locations across Mumbai and Kerala on Friday, June 6, in connection with the ₹65 crore Mithi River desilting scam. Among the high-profile names caught in the dragnet was Bollywood actor Dino Morea, whose Mumbai residence was searched by ED officials.
The agency is probing allegations of massive financial irregularities in the desilting contracts awarded for cleaning the Mithi River, a critical drainage channel in Mumbai. Along with Morea, the ED also raided the home of BMC Assistant Engineer Prashant Ramugade and the offices of several private contractors suspected of siphoning off funds through fake bills and over-invoicing.
The investigation falls under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and stems from an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police. While no arrests have been made yet, sources suggest that the financial trail could implicate several key players in both civic and private sectors. The case is being closely watched as one that may expose deeper systemic corruption within infrastructure-related public works in Mumbai.