In a significant development, popular actor Dulquer Salmaan has taken legal action, moving the Kerala High Court on Friday, September 26, 2025. He is challenging the Customs Department’s decision to seize one of his luxury vehicles, which was impounded amidst allegations of tax evasion.
Authorities had confiscated a Land Rover from Salmaan’s residence in Elamkulam, Kochi. This seizure is part of an extensive ongoing investigation targeting several prominent figures suspected of illegally importing approximately 36 high-end used cars from Bhutan, allegedly using fabricated documents.
In his petition to the High Court, Mr. Salmaan asserts that his vehicle was legitimately acquired from the Indian Red Cross, contesting the grounds for its seizure.
The Customs Preventive wing initiated a series of statewide raids on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. These operations targeted the homes and properties of numerous high-net-worth individuals across Kerala, including well-known actors and industrialists, as part of a concentrated effort against the alleged illicit importation of luxury vehicles from Bhutan.
This wide-reaching enforcement drive has been officially named ‘Operation Numkhor,’ a term that translates to ‘vehicle’ in Bhutanese.
As part of this operation, Customs officials notably inspected the residences of actors Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in Kochi, among other high-profile individuals.
To date, Customs has impounded 38 high-value, second-hand vehicles believed to have been smuggled into the region from Bhutan over the last few years, indicating the scale of the alleged illicit trade.
The operation received crucial backing from various state agencies, including the Motor Vehicles Department, the Anti-Terrorist Squad, and the Kerala Police, highlighting a coordinated approach to combat this smuggling network.
Under Indian law, the import of used vehicles is generally forbidden. An exception exists for individuals under the Transfer of Residence (TR) provision, permitting the import and registration of vehicles that have been used for a minimum of three years, provided a substantial 160% duty is paid.