Dulquer Salmaan, Amit Chakalakkal to Receive ED Notice in Bhutan Vehicle Smuggling Case
Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will issue notices to film actors Dulquer Salmaan and Amit Chakalakkal in connection with the Bhutan vehicle smuggling case. This action will follow a review of the documents seized during yesterday’s ED raid. Both actors have been directed to submit their bank account details. Dulquer Salmaan had previously stated to the investigative team that the vehicle was purchased after completing all legal procedures.
The ED’s move is to investigate the presence of hawala transactions in the financial dealings related to Bhutan vehicle smuggling. Further action will be taken after examining the documents and information obtained during yesterday’s raid. For this, an investigation team led by the ED Kochi Unit Deputy Director will meet today. The team will also examine the statements received from Dulquer Salmaan and others.
Matters including the registration of an ECIR in the case will be thoroughly examined. A decision will be made after legal consultation. The ED’s preliminary finding is that Dulquer and others have violated FEMA regulations. The ED states that Sections 3, 4, and 8 of the FEMA Act have been violated.
The ED suspects that hawala transactions took place through a Coimbatore-based gang. The ED has also found that the gang forged documents of the Indian Army and the US Embassy and used these documents to sell vehicles.
Enforcement officials returned from Dulquer Salmaan’s house in Elamkulam after completing a 13-hour search yesterday. The ED sought details from the actor regarding vehicle documents, ownership information, and payment methods. Yesterday, officials began simultaneous searches at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu starting at 7 AM. In addition to Dulquer, the ED also conducted searches at the homes of actors Prithviraj, Amit Chakalakkal, and various car showrooms.
The ED’s investigation followed the discovery of illegal financial transactions, including hawala, in the Bhutan vehicle smuggling case. Searches were conducted at Dulquer Salmaan’s house and offices in Chennai. The actor, who was in Chennai, was later summoned to Kochi by the ED for questioning.