12 hrs ago
Dino Morea Questioned in Mumbai Mithi River Desilting Scam Probe
Police are investigating whether money was wrongly taken from a project to remove mud from Mumbai’s Mithi River.
Actor Dino Morea was questioned for six hours about payments and bank transactions, then allowed to leave.
Police say contractors paid Rs 18 lakh to a company linked to him.
The company is jointly owned by his brother and another woman.
Morea and his brother have not been named in the chargesheets, according to the report.
Investigators allege that some contractors and civic officials changed records and tender rules.
They say around Rs 65.54 crore may have been siphoned from the project.
The river-cleaning project began after severe floods in Mumbai in 2005.
The trial has not begun, and several people accused in the case have been granted bail.
Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing questioned actor Dino Morea for six hours on October 2 and allowed him to leave; officials said he could be called again.
Investigators say contractors made multiple payments totaling Rs 18 lakh to a company linked to Morea, and questioned him about transactions involving accounts held by him and his brother.
The company, UBO Ridez, is jointly owned by Morea’s brother Santino and Punita Kadam; the article says Morea and his brother have not been named in the chargesheets.
The EOW alleges contractors colluded with some civic officials, manipulated records and tenders, and siphoned about Rs 65.54 crore from the desilting project.
The Mithi River project followed Mumbai’s deadly 2005 floods; the case trial has not started, and several accused contractors have received bail.
- Who
- Actor Dino Morea was questioned by the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing; the investigation also concerns contractors, civic officials and companies linked to the case.
- What
- Morea was questioned about alleged payments and transactions in the Mithi River desilting scam investigation.
- Where
- Mumbai, India.
- When
- October 2; the article does not specify the year for the questioning.
- Why
- Investigators questioned Morea about transactions allegedly made by contractor Ketan Kadam and payments to a company linked to Morea.
Investigators’ allegations
Procedural status and reported response
Payments and Morea’s role
Investigators’ allegations
Police say they traced Rs 18 lakh in contractor payments to a company linked to Morea and questioned him about transactions and accounts.
Procedural status and reported response
The report says Morea and his brother have not been named in the chargesheets. It does not include a response from Morea; the newspaper said it had sought comment.
How the project was allegedly exploited
Investigators’ allegations
Investigators allege that contractors colluded with some BMC officials, tampered with tender conditions and records, and claimed spending on work that did not occur.
Procedural status and reported response
The allegations have not yet been tested at trial, which has not started. Several accused people have received bail.
Key facts
- Questioning
- Six hours on October 2; Morea was allowed to leave and could be summoned again.
- Payments under scrutiny
- Police say they traced multiple contractor transactions totaling Rs 18 lakh to a company linked to Morea.
- Company
- UBO Ridez Private Limited is jointly owned by Santino Morea and Punita Kadam, according to the report.
- Accounts reviewed
- Investigators presented details of 12 accounts: seven held by Dino Morea and five by his brother.
- Alleged amount siphoned
- The EOW has marked Rs 65.54 crore as siphoned by contractors in alleged collusion with officials.
- Project
- The Mithi River desilting project followed the July 26, 2005 Mumbai floods; its stated completion deadline was 2010.
- Case status
- The trial has not started. The report says Morea and his brother have not been named in the chargesheets.
Quotes
Anil Galgali
Mumbai-based RTI activist commenting on the Mithi River desilting project.
“The deadline for completion of the project was 2010. It has been 16 years since then. Though some work has been done, a part is still incomplete. It is time the BMC sets up an actual deadline for completing the project.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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