Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out raids at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including the residences of prominent film actors Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan, and Prithviraj. The raids are part of an ongoing investigation into a Bhutanese vehicle smuggling case.
The ED’s action follows ‘Operation Numkhor’, an initiative by the Customs Department aimed at tracing vehicles illegally brought into India from Bhutan. The extensive searches targeted the homes and business establishments of film personalities such as Mammootty, Prithviraj, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amit Chakkalakkal, as well as other vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in various cities including Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.
According to ED officials, the raids stem from intelligence regarding a sophisticated syndicate involved in the illegal import and registration of high-end luxury vehicles, including Land Cruiser, Defender, and Maserati models. These vehicles were reportedly smuggled into India via the India-Bhutan and Nepal routes.
The investigation revealed that a Coimbatore-based criminal network allegedly used forged documents, purporting to be from entities like the Indian Army, US Embassy, and the Ministry of External Affairs. They also employed fraudulent RTO registrations in states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh to facilitate the smuggling. These illicitly obtained vehicles were then sold at significantly reduced prices to affluent individuals, including those in the film industry.
The ED stated that the proceedings were initiated after preliminary findings indicated violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which pertain to illegal foreign exchange transactions and cross-border money transfers through hawala channels. The agency has confirmed that further investigations are actively underway to identify the ultimate source of funds, unravel the complete network of beneficiaries, and track all foreign exchange remittances involved in the scheme.
This ED probe builds upon previous actions taken by Customs in ‘Operation Numkhor’, where cases were registered, and several vehicles were seized. The current ED raids are prompted by suspicions of money laundering connected to the vehicle smuggling operation. Customs had previously conducted raids at the residences of the three actors concerning the Bhutanese vehicle smuggling. During those earlier searches, Dulquer Salmaan’s Defender, Land Cruiser, and Nissan Patrol vehicles were seized.
Dulquer Salmaan had subsequently approached the High Court seeking the release of his Defender. Although Customs presented serious allegations against him in court, the High Court issued an interim order, instructing that the request for the release of Dulquer’s Defender be considered and a decision made within a week. The current wave of ED inspections follows these significant developments in the case.