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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into the alleged multi-crore scam surrounding the desilting and cleaning of Mumbai's Mithi River by summoning Bollywood actor Dino Morea and his brother, Santino Morea, for questioning. This move follows a series of raids conducted at Morea's residence and other locations, indicating a significant escalation in the probe. The case revolves around allegations of fraudulent activities involving senior officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), private contractors, and intermediaries, all suspected of colluding to siphon off funds allocated for the crucial task of cleaning and maintaining the Mithi River. The river, vital to Mumbai's drainage system, is prone to overflowing during monsoons, leading to severe urban flooding. The alleged scam involves fake billing and fraudulent Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) submitted to the BMC, falsely claiming the completion of desilting work that was, in many cases, never actually carried out. The consequences of this alleged corruption are far-reaching, directly impacting the city's ability to manage heavy rainfall and prevent the recurring problem of urban flooding.
Dino Morea's involvement in the case came under scrutiny after his name reportedly surfaced in the call records of Ketan Kadam, one of the 13 individuals accused in the scam. This connection prompted the ED to summon Morea for questioning, seeking to clarify his relationship with Kadam and to ascertain whether he had any knowledge of the alleged irregularities. The summons followed a nearly 14-hour-long search at Morea's Bandra residence, during which ED officials seized mobile devices and restricted movement, indicating the seriousness with which the agency is pursuing the investigation. In addition to Morea's home, the ED conducted simultaneous search operations at 14 other locations across Mumbai and Kochi, suggesting a widespread network of individuals and entities potentially involved in the scam. The investigation has also involved questioning by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police, further highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the probe and the collaboration between different law enforcement agencies.
The core of the scam lies in the alleged submission of fake bills and fraudulent MoUs to the BMC. Contractors are accused of falsely claiming to have completed desilting work, when in reality, no physical desilting was conducted in several cases. This blatant disregard for the city's infrastructure has had a direct impact on Mumbai's vulnerability to flooding during monsoons. Police investigations have revealed that contractors submitted fake bills for transporting and dumping desilted material at nine locations. However, landowners at these locations have claimed that they never signed any agreements with the contractors, and in some instances, the landowners listed in the documents reportedly do not even exist. This level of deceit and manipulation points to a sophisticated and well-orchestrated scheme designed to defraud the BMC and siphon off public funds.
According to DCP (EOW) Sangramsingh Nishandar, the FIR in the case was initially registered at the Azad Maidan Police Station, following preliminary findings suggesting the use of forged bills and documents to siphon off public funds allocated for river cleaning. The FIR covers multiple aspects of the scam, including the creation of fake contracts, fraudulent dumping of silt at non-existent locations, and manipulation of official records. The accused have been booked under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code related to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy, and if convicted, they could face up to seven years in prison. The involvement of BMC officials in the scam is particularly concerning, as it suggests a breakdown in internal controls and oversight mechanisms within the municipal corporation.
Several companies are currently under investigation for their alleged role in the scam, including Acute Design, Kailash Construction, N.A. Construction, Nikhil Construction, and J.R.S Infrastructure. These firms are accused of submitting fake MoUs and falsely claiming completion of desilting operations. Another significant revelation involves a company called Matprop, which conducted a field visit to the Mithi River in February 2020. Officials allege that, in collusion with BMC engineers, the company manipulated terms of the contract for personal and financial gain. The key BMC officials named in the FIR include Prashant Ramugade, Assistant Engineer and Designated Officer in the Rainwater Drainage Department; and Ganesh Bendre, Deputy Chief Engineer (East Suburbs), along with others. Private individuals and contractors named in the FIR include Jay Joshi of Virgo Specialities Pvt Ltd, Ketan Kadam of Vodar India LLP, Bhupendra Purohit, Deepak Mohan, and Kishore Menon.
In total, five contractors, three middlemen, two company officials, and three BMC officials have been booked in connection with the case. Police say the scam caused significant financial loss to the BMC. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case was formed after BJP leaders and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), Pravin Darekar and Prasad Lad, raised concerns about the desilting project during the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly. Their concerns highlight the political implications of the scam and the pressure on the government to take swift and decisive action. The desilting initiative was part of a larger Rs 1,100 crore Mithi River beautification and flood mitigation project undertaken to improve the city's drainage infrastructure. This larger project underscores the importance of the Mithi River to Mumbai's overall infrastructure and the potential consequences of corruption and mismanagement.
The investigation into the Mithi River desilting scam is ongoing, and the ED's summons to Dino Morea represents a significant step forward in uncovering the full extent of the alleged fraud. The involvement of Bollywood actor Dino Morea has added a layer of public interest to the case, drawing greater attention to the issue of corruption within the BMC and the potential impact on Mumbai's infrastructure. The investigation serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government projects, particularly those that are critical to the well-being and safety of the city's residents. The outcome of the investigation will have significant implications for all those involved, and it will also serve as a test of the government's commitment to tackling corruption and ensuring the proper management of public funds. The case highlights the vulnerability of urban infrastructure projects to corruption and the need for robust oversight mechanisms to prevent such scams from occurring in the future. Only through rigorous investigation and prosecution can trust be restored in the integrity of public works and the safety and security of the city's residents be ensured.
Source: Probe Agency ED Summons Actor Dino Morea In Mithi River Scam Day After Raid