Actor Dulquer Salmaan approached the Kerala High Court on Friday (September 26, 2025), challenging the decision of Customs personnel to seize one of his high-end cars on the charge of suspected tax evasion.
A Land Rover was seized from his house at Elamkulam in Kochi, Kerala, as part of the crackdown on celebrities who reportedly purchased high-end used cars from Bhutan using forged documents.
Mr. Salmaan contended in his plea before the Kerala High Court that the vehicle was purchased from the Indian Red Cross.
The Customs Preventive wing on Tuesday (September 23, 2025) conducted Statewide raids at the residences and premises of high-net-worth individuals in Kerala, including prominent actors and industrialists, as part of the crackdown on alleged illegal import of premium vehicles from Bhutan.
The operation was named Numkhor, which in Bhutanese means ‘vehicle.’
Customs officials had examined the houses of actors Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in Kochi, among others.
The Customs had seized 38 so far “high-value second-hand cars” suspected to have been smuggled in from Bhutan over the past few years.
The Motor Vehicles department, Anti-Terrorist Squad, and Kerala Police extended support.
Indian law prohibits the import of second-hand vehicles except under the Transfer of Residence (TR) provision, which allows vehicles used for three years or more to be imported and registered upon payment of a 160% duty.
Published – September 26, 2025 03:47 pm IST
