On Friday, September 26, 2025, acclaimed actor Dulquer Salmaan filed a petition with the Kerala High Court, disputing the Customs department’s decision to confiscate one of his luxury vehicles amidst allegations of tax evasion.
A Land Rover was specifically impounded from Salmaan’s residence in Elamkulam, Kochi. This action is part of a larger, ongoing investigation targeting prominent individuals suspected of acquiring numerous high-end used cars from Bhutan using falsified documents.
In his High Court submission, Mr. Salmaan asserted that the contested vehicle was legitimately purchased from the Indian Red Cross.
The Customs Preventive wing initiated a series of statewide raids on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. These operations targeted the homes and properties of several high-net-worth individuals across Kerala, including well-known actors and industrialists, all implicated in the alleged illicit import of premium vehicles from Bhutan.
This extensive operation has been codenamed ‘Numkhor,’ a Bhutanese term meaning ‘vehicle.’
As part of the ongoing probe, Customs officials previously inspected the residences of actors Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in Kochi, alongside other figures.
To date, Customs authorities have seized a total of 38 high-value, second-hand automobiles, all believed to have been illegally smuggled into the country from Bhutan over recent years.
The Motor Vehicles Department, Anti-Terrorist Squad, and Kerala Police have actively provided support to the Customs investigation.
Indian regulations strictly forbid the import of used vehicles, with an exception for those brought in under the Transfer of Residence (TR) provision. This clause permits the import and registration of vehicles that have been used for three years or more, provided a substantial 160% import duty is paid.