In a significant legal development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally informed the Kerala High Court of its intention to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the recent seizure of 36 luxury pre-owned vehicles. These high-value cars were confiscated by Customs personnel on Tuesday, under the suspicion that they were illicitly smuggled from Bhutan into Kerala. Reports indicate that several prominent film personalities and other individuals are allegedly linked to the ownership of these illegally imported vehicles.
The ED’s pledge to investigate came during an oral submission before a Division Bench, presided over by Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice S. Muralee Krishna. The court, citing widespread media coverage of the Customs raid and the subsequent vehicle seizures, proactively questioned whether the central agency intended to delve into the matter. This query arose as the court was hearing an appeal connected to a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED’s counsel further clarified that the scope of their investigation would include scrutinizing whether the alleged smuggling operation and related activities attract provisions of both the PMLA and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FERA). This broad examination aims to uncover the full financial and legal implications of the high-profile smuggling racket.