The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Wednesday launched simultaneous raids under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged smuggling of high-end pre-owned vehicles, and related to unauthorised foreign exchange transactions.
The raids are being conducted at the residences of film stars Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Amith Chackalakkal. The ED officials are conducting raids at Dulquer’s residence in Panampally Nagar in Kochi, Amith’s residence in Kadavanthra in Kochi, and Prithviraj’s residence in Ernakulam.
Apart from Kochi, raids are being conducted at the residences and establishments of certain vehicle owners, traders, and automobile workshops in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kottayam. The raids, which started at 6:30 am on Wednesday, are still continuing.
The ED’s raid follows a statewide enforcement drive, named ‘Operation Numkhor’ by the Customs Commissionerate in Kochi, since September 23, during which over 30 locations, including the residences of film stars, including Dulquer Salmaan and Amith Chackalakkal, were searched. Around 39 vehicles were seized by the Customs in these raids.
The ED sources said it initiated proceedings after finding that sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA have been violated in the incident of smuggling of high-end pre-owned luxury vehicles from Bhutan.