What Is Mithi River Scam?

Mithi River Scam: A Deep Dive into Corruption, Negligence, and Political Fallout

The Mithi River, an 18-kilometer-long waterway that snakes through Mumbai, has historically served as a critical floodwater outlet, draining excess rainwater into the Arabian Sea. After the devastating Mumbai floods in July 2005, caused in part by the river’s choked condition, authorities pledged to ensure regular cleaning and desilting of this vital river. Yet, despite crores of rupees being allocated annually for this purpose, recent revelations have exposed one of Mumbai’s most significant civic scams in recent years: the Mithi River desilting scam.

The Scam Unfolds

In 2025, Mumbai’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) uncovered a major scandal involving fraudulent desilting contracts allegedly amounting to at least Rs 65 crore, with estimates potentially rising to over Rs 1,000 crore. The investigation revealed that several contractors, in collusion with officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), claimed payments for desilting work that was either partially done or not done at all.

Key tactics used in the scam included submitting forged work completion certificates, inflating the volume of silt removed, and using the same removed debris multiple times to claim repeated payments. Many trucks reportedly made fake trips or dumped the silt back into the river instead of transporting it to official dumping grounds.

Bureaucratic Complicity and Collusion

The scam could not have operated at such a scale without internal complicity. BMC engineers, supervisors, and clerical staff allegedly approved and processed payments without proper site verification. Investigations also found that tenders were custom-tailored to benefit specific contractors, and work orders were granted without ensuring competitive bidding.

At least 13 individuals, including civic officials and private contractors, have been named in the FIR filed by the EOW. Raids conducted at multiple premises led to the seizure of incriminating documents, fake work logs, and financial records.

Sanjay Nirupam Brings Political Angle to Light

While the scam was already under investigation, it was Sanjay Nirupam, a senior leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, who publicly exposed the alleged political protection behind it. Nirupam directly accused Aaditya Thackeray, leader of the rival Shiv Sena (UBT), of being complicit in the scam.

He alleged that from 2005 to 2022, when the BMC was under undivided Shiv Sena control, no major contracts could be cleared without approval from “Matoshree,” the Thackeray family residence. Nirupam suggested that the desilting scam was not just a case of bureaucratic corruption but also of high-level political interference and profiteering.

Dino Morea’s Name Surfaces

The scam took a celebrity turn when actor Dino Morea was summoned for questioning by the EOW. His name came up after his brother’s firm, UBO Ridez, was found to have financial links to Ketan Kadam, one of the arrested middlemen in the scam.

Nirupam further alleged that Dino Morea, a known associate of Aaditya Thackeray, received payments through his firm in return for services unrelated to desilting, hinting at laundering of scam money. While Dino Morea denied any wrongdoing and stated he was cooperating fully, his involvement has added a layer of sensationalism and public curiosity to the case.

Risk to Public Safety

Perhaps the most disturbing consequence of the scam is its direct impact on public safety. Mumbai is notoriously vulnerable during monsoon season, and any delay or deficiency in desilting the Mithi River could lead to another catastrophic flood like the one in 2005. By May 2025, only about 53% of the required desilting work had been completed, leaving the city highly exposed to waterlogging and infrastructural damage.

Civic activists and environmental experts have long warned that such corruption in flood-prevention measures is tantamount to playing with human lives. Funds meant to safeguard citizens have instead been diverted into private pockets, while the public continues to face the brunt of civic failures.

Public Outrage and Political Repercussions

The revelations have caused massive public outrage. Citizens of Mumbai, already weary of yearly flooding, see this as a betrayal of trust. Political blame games have intensified, with the ruling and opposition factions accusing each other of shielding culprits.

Sanjay Nirupam has demanded a high-level judicial inquiry and forensic audit of all desilting-related payments made since 2005. He has also urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate the money trail and file money laundering charges where applicable.

Calls for Reform

The Mithi River scam has reignited debates on transparency and accountability in urban governance. Key reform suggestions being made include:

• Real-time Monitoring: Using GPS-enabled trucks and drone surveillance to track desilting work in real time.
• Transparent Tendering: Publishing all tenders and awarded contracts publicly to prevent manipulation.
• Third-Party Audits: Independent technical audits after project completion.
• Whistleblower Protection: Legal safeguards for those who expose corruption within the system.

Conclusion

The Mithi River desilting scam is not just another case of civic corruption. It reflects a systemic failure where bureaucrats, contractors, and possibly even politicians colluded to embezzle public funds meant for disaster prevention. Sanjay Nirupam’s revelations have added crucial political dimensions to the case, pointing to a need for thorough and impartial investigation.

With the monsoons around the corner, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Mumbai doesn’t just need clean rivers—it needs clean governance. The people of the city deserve better oversight, real accountability, and above all, justice for the betrayal they’ve suffered.