Dulquer Salmaan’ Home Raided in High-Profile Smuggled Car Case

In a significant development in the high-profile luxury car smuggling case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including the residences of prominent Malayalam film actors. Among those whose premises were searched were leading star Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Amit Chakkalackal, as the federal agency intensifies its investigation into a sophisticated syndicate alleged to be smuggling high-end vehicles and engaging in illegal foreign exchange transactions.

The operation, carried out by the Kochi Zonal Office of the ED under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), spanned 17 locations. The searches targeted premises in several key districts including Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam in Kerala, and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The scope of the raids extended beyond the film stars to encompass certain vehicle owners, automobile workshops, and traders suspected of involvement in the racket.

Focus on FEMA Violations and Hawala Channels

The ED’s action stems from a preceding large-scale investigation, code-named “Operation Numkhor” (meaning ‘vehicle’ in Bhutanese), conducted by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, which had previously seized a large number of high-value pre-owned luxury cars. The ongoing probe focuses on alleged violations of FEMA, particularly sections pertaining to unauthorized foreign exchange transactions and cross-border payments believed to have been routed through illegal hawala channels.

Preliminary findings by investigators suggest a well-organized, Coimbatore-based syndicate is at the heart of the operation. This network is suspected of illegally importing luxury vehicles such as Toyota Land Cruisers, Land Rover Defenders, and Maseratis, primarily from Bhutan and Nepal routes, to evade significant import duties.

Forged Documents and Fraudulent Registration

A key element of the alleged scam involves the use of forged documentation to secure fraudulent vehicle registrations. Officials indicated that the syndicate reportedly utilized fake documents purportedly issued by high-security entities, including the Indian Army, the US Embassy, and the Ministry of External Affairs. These cars were then allegedly registered fraudulently in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh before being sold to high-net-worth individuals, including film personalities, at substantially undervalued prices.

The ED’s current operation aims to meticulously trace the complex money trail, identify the full network of beneficiaries, and ascertain the precise movement of foreign exchange linked to this illicit trade.

Dulquer Salmaan’s Legal Move

This round of ED raids follows earlier actions by the Customs Department where multiple vehicles belonging to Dulquer Salmaan were seized. The actor has since approached the Kerala High Court seeking the release of his seized vehicles. The court, in an order issued a day prior to the ED raids, directed Salmaan to approach the adjudicating authority under the Customs Act to seek the provisional release of one of his high-end SUVs.

The High Court’s directive requires the Customs authority to consider his application within a week, provided the actor furnishes valid ownership papers and appropriate security. Salmaan’s legal team has reportedly argued that the vehicle in question was legally imported several years ago under legitimate transactions, a claim that Customs maintains must be assessed in light of the ongoing extensive investigation.

The widening net of the probe, with the ED now investigating the money laundering and foreign exchange angle, signals a serious official crackdown on the illegal luxury vehicle market that has long been suspected to flourish through tax evasion and fraudulent documentation. The simultaneous raids on the residences of prominent personalities highlight the gravity and scale of the alleged financial irregularities.