In the latest addition to the controversial Bhutan car smuggling row, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kerala conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of Malayalam movie star Mammootty, his son and actor-producer Dulquer Salmaan, and actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran.
According to the ground report from Malayala Manorama, simultaneous raids occurred at 17 locations, including Dulquer Salmaan’s Kadavanthra residence.
The ED raid came on the heels of the Customs investigation announced last month, which drew public flak. THE WEEK then reported on the state-wide crackdown by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate in Kochi, codenamed 'Operation Numkhor'.
The Customs last month seized 36 high-end luxury vehicles, and alleged that a sophisticated smuggling racket was illegally importing second-hand cars from Bhutan.
However, the way it was announced garnered flak from Malayalees across social media, who noted that Dulquer Salmaan’s name was unceremoniously highlighted, along with that of actors Prithviraj and Amith Chakalakkal, while the names of the owners of the other 25-30 cars remained a mystery.
Dulquer vs Customs
In fact, Dulquer Salmaan promptly slapped an urgent writ petition on the Customs Commissioner in the Kerala High Court shortly after.
ALSO READ | Is Dulquer Salmaan involved in Operation Numkhor?
Dulquer Salmaan, in his petition, said that he bought the vehicle after completing all the necessary legal procedures, and accused the Customs of seizing his cars without even checking the documents.
The ED reportedly said that the current raid was part of their investigation into possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
ED sources stated that the searches are based on information regarding a network involved in the illegal import and registration of luxury cars like Land Cruisers and Defenders through the Bhutan and Nepal routes into India.
Possible FEMA violations
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Coimbatore-based network used fake documents and RTO registrations from Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and other states.
Subsequently, these vehicles were sold at reduced prices to individuals, including film stars. The action was initiated following the initial detection of violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA.
ED officials further explained that the investigation includes unauthorised foreign exchange transactions and cross-border payments through hawala channels. However, it is unclear how the actors are involved other than being the end-customers of the vehicles.
Given the Customs department’s allegations last minth that the Parivahaan records may have been duped, it is quite possible that the actors in question could also be hapless victims.
