The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate probing the alleged smuggling of luxury and vintage vehicles from Bhutan has decided to release two seized cars, including one owned by actor Dulquer Salmaan, sources with the agency said on Friday.
The two vehicles, Mr. Salmaan’s Land Rover Defender and another Land Rover owned by Thrissur native Robin, will be released under Section 110A of the Customs Act, which permits the provisional release of seized goods pending final adjudication.
The Kerala High Court recently asked the actor to approach the adjudicating authority under the Customs Act to get his vehicle released.
The vehicles will be released after the owners execute a bond for their approximate value and furnish 20% of that amount as a bank guarantee, the sources said. The high-end vehicles were seized by the Customs department over a week ago on the charge of tax evasion.
The Customs had seized 43 vehicles suspected to have been smuggled from Bhutan, including those belonging to Mr. Salmaan and actor Amith Chakalakkal as part of Operation Numkhor, aimed to crack down on customers who reportedly purchased high-end used cars/SUVs from Bhutan using forged documents.
Mr. Salmaan had approached the High Court alleging that the seizure was arbitrary and was based on suspicion. He contended that he had been using the 2004 model vehicle for the past five years, without complaint from any quarters. Moreover, all its payments had been made through bank transactions.
Of the 43 cars seized, 39 have been provisionally released or given for safe custody to the owners, according to the Customs sources.
Published – October 17, 2025 07:33 pm IST
