The Directorate of Enforcement’s (ED) Kochi Zonal Office recently issued a summons to acclaimed actor and producer Dulquer Salmaan. This action comes as part of a widening investigation into the seizure of several high-end, pre-owned luxury SUVs by Customs authorities last month.
The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate in Kochi initiated ‘Operation Numkhor’ to tackle the suspected smuggling of luxury vehicles, particularly those brought in from Bhutan. This operation initially led to the confiscation of two Land Rover Defenders and a Nissan Patrol. Subsequently, another vehicle linked to the actor was seized.
Sources indicate that Mr. Salmaan’s summons is directly related to transactions involving these impounded vehicles. The investigation had previously seen raids on the premises of actors Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, hinting at the broad scope of the probe.
Earlier, Mr. Salmaan had sought intervention from the Kerala High Court for the release of his vehicles. The High Court, however, directed him to approach the adjudicating authority under the Customs Act to facilitate the release of one of his luxury SUVs.
Widespread ED Raids Uncover Smuggling Syndicate
The ED’s involvement intensified with extensive raids conducted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). These raids targeted 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, focusing on the alleged smuggling of high-end luxury cars and related unauthorized foreign exchange dealings. This followed an earlier directive from the Kerala High Court regarding the release of Mr. Salmaan’s SUV.
The extensive operation encompassed residences and business establishments of notable film figures like Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amit Chakkalakkal. It also extended to various vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in regions including Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.
These ED actions were a follow-up to previous statewide Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate raids in Kochi on September 23. Those initial raids covered over 30 locations, including actors’ residences, resulting in the seizure of 37 high-value second-hand cars suspected of being illegally brought from Bhutan over recent years. Three more vehicles were confiscated shortly after.
According to an ED release, the investigations were spurred by intelligence about a sophisticated syndicate involved in the illegal import and registration of luxury vehicles such as Land Cruisers, Defenders, and Maseratis, often routed through Indo-Bhutan/Nepal pathways.
Initial findings point to a network based in Coimbatore. This syndicate allegedly used forged documents, falsely claiming affiliation with the Indian Army, US Embassy, and the Ministry of External Affairs. They also reportedly carried out fraudulent Regional Transport Office (RTO) registrations in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. These illegally registered vehicles were then sold at undervalued prices to high-net-worth individuals, including prominent film personalities.
The ED’s intervention stems from preliminary detection of violations under Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA. These violations involve unauthorized foreign exchange transactions and cross-border payments, often facilitated through illicit hawala channels.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to meticulously trace the money trail, identify the full beneficiary network, and track the movement of foreign exchange involved in this elaborate smuggling operation.
The Customs operation was initially launched based on a list of 150 to 200 vehicles flagged for registration irregularities in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways database, all suspected to have been brought into Kerala by this Coimbatore-based criminal network.