The Kochi Zonal Office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Wednesday (October 8, 2025) summoned actor-producer Dulquer Salmaan in connection with the seizure of three high-end pre-owned SUVs by the Customs last month.
The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, initially seized two SUVs — two Land Rover Defenders and a Nissan Patrol — followed by another vehicle from the actor as part of Operation Numkhor, which targets high-value pre-owned vehicles suspected to have been smuggled in from Bhutan.
Reportedly, the actor has been summoned regarding transactions related to the seized vehicles.
Mr. Salmaan had earlier approached the Kerala High Court seeking the release of his vehicles. On Tuesday, the High Court directed him to approach the adjudicating authority under the Customs Act to request the release of one of his high-end SUVs.
ED raids
The ED has been conducting raids under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu since Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged smuggling of high-end pre-owned luxury vehicles and related unauthorised foreign exchange transactions.
The operation covered 17 premises, including the residences and establishments of film stars Prithviraj Sikumaran, Mr. Salmaan, and Amit Chakkalakkal, as well as certain vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.
These raids follow simultaneous Statewide operations conducted by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, at over 30 locations — including the residences of actors — on September 23. During those raids, 37 “high-value second-hand cars” suspected to have been smuggled in from Bhutan over the past few years were seized. Three more vehicles were confiscated in the days that followed.
“The searches were based on inputs exposing a syndicate engaged in the illegal import and registration of luxury cars such as Land Cruiser, Defender, and Maserati through Indo-Bhutan/Nepal routes,” stated a release issued by the ED on Wednesday.
Preliminary findings reveal a Coimbatore-based network using forged documents —purporting to be from the Indian Army, US Embassy, and Ministry of External Affairs—and fraudulent RTO (Regional Transport Office) registrations in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and other States. The vehicles were later sold to high-net-worth individuals, including film personalities, at undervalued prices, the release added.
The ED action was initiated after prima facie violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA were detected, involving unauthorised foreign exchange transactions and cross-border payments through hawala channels.
Further investigation is under way to trace the money trail, beneficiary network, and foreign exchange movement.
The Customs carried out the operation based on a list of 150 to 200 vehicles flagged for irregularities in the database of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. These vehicles were suspected to have been smuggled into Kerala by a Coimbatore-based racket.
Published – October 08, 2025 03:28 pm IST
