The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) Kochi Zonal Office has issued a summons to actor-producer Dulquer Salmaan. This action is linked to the Customs’ recent seizure of three high-end, pre-owned SUVs last month, which are now central to an ongoing investigation.
The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate in Kochi began ‘Operation Numkhor,’ an initiative targeting luxury vehicles suspected of being illegally brought in from Bhutan. As part of this operation, two SUVs – specifically two Land Rover Defenders and a Nissan Patrol – were initially seized, with another vehicle later confiscated from the actor.
Sources indicate that the summons to Mr. Salmaan concerns financial transactions connected to these seized vehicles. Previously, Mr. Salmaan had sought the release of his vehicles through the Kerala High Court. The court recently advised him to approach the designated adjudicating authority under the Customs Act to facilitate the release of one of his luxury SUVs.
Nationwide Raids by ED
The ED’s actions are part of a broader investigation into the alleged smuggling of high-end, pre-owned luxury vehicles and associated unauthorized foreign exchange transactions. Raids, conducted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), have taken place at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
These extensive operations targeted 17 premises, including the homes and businesses of prominent film personalities like Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amit Chakkalakkal. Investigations also extended to various vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in regions such as Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.
These recent ED raids build upon earlier statewide operations by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, which occurred on September 23. Those initial searches covered over 30 locations, including actors’ residences, and resulted in the seizure of 37 ‘high-value second-hand cars’ believed to have been smuggled from Bhutan in recent years. An additional three vehicles were later confiscated.
According to a statement from the ED, these searches were prompted by intelligence revealing a sophisticated syndicate involved in the illegal import and registration of luxury vehicles like Land Cruisers, Defenders, and Maseratis, often using routes via Bhutan and Nepal.
Initial findings suggest a network operating from Coimbatore. This group allegedly used forged documents, falsely claiming origins from the Indian Army, the US Embassy, or the Ministry of External Affairs, to facilitate fraudulent vehicle registrations in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. These luxury cars were then reportedly sold to wealthy individuals, including prominent film figures, at significantly reduced prices.
The ED’s intervention was triggered by initial evidence pointing to violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA, which govern foreign exchange management. These violations reportedly include unauthorized international money transfers and payments made through illegal hawala networks. The investigation is actively continuing, focusing on tracking the financial flows, identifying all beneficiaries involved, and mapping the movement of foreign exchange.
Customs authorities launched their operations after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways database flagged between 150 to 200 vehicles for irregularities. It is suspected that a Coimbatore-based criminal group was responsible for illegally bringing these vehicles into Kerala.