Dino Morea Grilled for Over Two Hours by Mumbai Police EOW in Mithi River Desilting Scam

Dino Morea Grilled for Over Two Hours by Mumbai Police EOW in Mithi River Desilting Scam

Bollywood actor and model Dino Morea appeared before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police on Friday, October 2, 2026, where he was subjected to extensive questioning lasting over two hours in connection with the alleged Mithi River desilting financial scam. Arriving at the Mumbai Police Commissioner's Office in South Mumbai following an official summons, the actor joined the widening probe looking into money trails, alleged kickbacks, and financial irregularities tied to civic contracts awarded by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The rigorous inquiry forms part of a multi-agency crackdown examining whether public funds earmarked for critical urban flood management and riverbed clearing were diverted and misappropriated through shell firms, intermediaries, and influential commercial associates.

Inside the Mithi River Desilting Probe: Alleged Contractor Links and Enforcement Actions

The financial investigation into the Mithi River cleanup operations focuses on serious discrepancies between recorded expenses and ground reality:

  • Alleged Misappropriation of Drainage Funds: Investigators are scrutinizing Dino Morea over his suspected business links, contracts, and financial transactions with specific contractors and municipal officials accused of siphoning off funds meant for desilting, channel widening, and flood prevention across Mumbai.

  • The 2025 Enforcement Directorate Raids: The federal anti-money laundering agency had already zeroed in on the network in 2025, conducting coordinated search operations across 15 locations in Mumbai and Kochi, which included a search of Morea's private residential premises to seize balance sheets, digital ledgers, and banking records.

  • Originating From the 2005 Deluge: Conceived in the catastrophic aftermath of the July 26, 2005 Mumbai floods, the Mithi River desilting and rejuvenation initiative was launched by the BMC along with regional civic agencies to clear silt, plastic sludge, and industrial debris to ensure uninterrupted drainage into the Arabian Sea.

  • Discrepancy in Civic Logs: Subsequent audits and investigative findings highlighted glaring gaps between the volume of dredging shown on municipal paperwork and the actual physical depth achieved on the riverbed, prompting allegations of inflated billing and fraudulent vouchers.

Mounting Scrutiny: Name Also Named in Disha Salian Case Investigation

The interrogation by the EOW coincides with a separate legal development involving the actor in the renewed investigation into the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian:

  • High Court Orders Fresh Probe: On September 2, 2026, the Bombay High Court ordered a fresh probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of Disha Salian, prompting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to formally register an FIR on September 14, 2026.

  • Father's Formal Complaint: The renewed federal action followed a detailed statutory statement submitted by her father, Satish Salian, who alleged that his daughter was subjected to assault and murder prior to her fall on June 8, 2020.

  • Individuals Named in Statement: In his deposition before investigating authorities, Satish Salian named multiple high-profile personalities, including politicians, actors, and former officials such as Aaditya Thackeray, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi and their security personnel, along with Rohan Roy, Rhea Chakraborty, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, and dismissed cop Sachin Vaze.

  • Awaiting Legal Recourse: While Disha Salian’s demise was initially filed as an Accidental Death Report (ADR) by the local police days before the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the dual ongoing probes by the CBI and the EOW have placed several prominent public figures under intense investigative scrutiny.