On Friday, Bollywood star Dino Morea was interrogated by the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) regarding the alleged Mithi River desilting fraud, which is said to involve a sum of ₹65.54 crore. Morea arrived at the EOW office at approximately 1:30 PM to participate in the investigation.
A senior official from the EOW confirmed that Morea was summoned to clarify certain details that had surfaced during the ongoing inquiry. So far, three individuals have been detained in relation to this case.
The investigation centers on suspected financial misconduct, including inflated rental rates for equipment and various corrupt activities associated with contracts for the desilting of the Mithi River.
Previously, Morea had been questioned twice in May of the prior year after investigators uncovered financial transactions between him and Ketan Kadam, one of the accused, occurring between 2019 and 2022.
Morea’s relative, Santino Rocco Morea, and Kadam’s spouse, Punita Kadam, served as directors of UBO Ridez Private Limited, a company that operates vintage-style electric carriages in Mumbai. Santino was also interrogated by the EOW last year.
Kadam, who owns Woder India LLP and serves as the CEO of Virgo Specialties, was arrested on May 7, alongside Jayesh Joshi, associated with Virgo Specialties. They were part of a group of 13 individuals charged with allegedly causing a loss of ₹65.54 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
In August, the EOW took into custody contractor Shersingh Rathod, who is accused of submitting fraudulent photographs and videos to falsely demonstrate that silt had been removed from the river. Investigators allege that his company, Maideep Enterprises, submitted bills totaling ₹29.63 crore, which were approved by BMC officials.
According to the EOW, some BMC representatives traveled to Kochi in October 2020 to acquire desilting equipment from Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd. Allegedly, the specifications in subsequent tenders matched those of Matprop’s machinery, effectively necessitating that contractors utilize their equipment.
Investigators claim that contractors who approached Matprop were directed to Kadam and Joshi, who supposedly rented out the equipment at exorbitant prices. The EOW is also examining how Woder India LLP obtained various civic contracts.
The inquiry into Rathod commenced when investigators scrutinized contractors awarded work under the desilting tenders. His firm was among five that received contracts for the 2021-22 period.
Officials have suggested that trucks depicted in photographs and videos as transporting silt were actually carrying construction debris. Rathod later presented agreements allegedly signed with landowners in Bhiwandi and Panvel for silt disposal, but the landowners denied having any affiliation with Rathod and claimed that their signatures were forged.
In one instance, an agreement supposedly signed in April 2021 was attributed to a landowner who had passed away three months earlier, according to an official.
The EOW contends that Rathod utilized forged documents to submit ₹29.63 crore in bills under the name of Maideep Enterprises, which were subsequently approved by BMC officials.
Manish Kumar Pathak is an experienced journalist for The Indian Express, based in Mumbai. His reporting showcases substantial knowledge and authority in crime journalism, focusing heavily on law enforcement initiatives, fraud cases, and cybersecurity issues affecting the metropolitan area.
Pathak is affiliated with The Indian Express, a nationally recognized daily, ensuring that his reports are regarded as trustworthy.
His geographical coverage includes detailed reporting on breaking news and investigative stories across Mumbai and the adjacent regions, such as Thane and Vasai.
Pathak’s expertise encompasses various critical areas, including:
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Pathak’s unwavering focus on crime, fraud, and the operational dynamics of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a reliable and authoritative voice for essential news in Western India.
