The Customs inquiry had already hinted at possible financial irregularities and forged import documents, prompting the ED to step in for a deeper probe into the foreign exchange angle.
File Photo
Luxury cars, fake papers, and hawala trails have shaken Kerala’s film industry as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids on Malayalam superstars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amit Chakkalackal in connection with a high-profile luxury car smuggling case.
On Wednesday, the ED’s Kochi Zonal Office carried out search operations at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. The searches are on allegations of high-end vehicle smuggling and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings.
Advertisement
According to officials, the raids took place at residences and establishments belonging to the three actors, as well as at the properties of certain vehicle owners, auto workshops, and dealers in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.
Advertisement
The operation launched following inputs that exposed a syndicate involved in the illegal import and registration of luxury cars, including models such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Defender, and Maserati. These vehicles reportedly came into India through routes connected to land borders in Bhutan and Nepal.
Preliminary findings revealed that a Coimbatore-based network had been using fake documents. They allegedly bore names of institutions like the Indian Army, the US Embassy, and the Ministry of External Affairs to register imported vehicles fraudulently in states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
Officials said that after registration, the vehicles were sold at undervalued rates to high-net-worth individuals, including film personalities. The agency suspects prima facie violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA, which relate to unauthorised foreign exchange transactions and cross-border payments through illegal hawala channels.
The ED is now tracing the money trail and examining how the foreign funds moved through various accounts and intermediaries. Sources also suggest that this car-smuggling operation might have links to larger rackets involving gold and narcotics smuggling.
This latest ED action follows a major Customs Department crackdown last month. On September 23, as part of ‘Operation Numkhor’, Customs officers seized 36 luxury vehicles from about 30 different locations, including the homes of Prithviraj, Dulquer, and Amit.
The Customs inquiry had already hinted at possible financial irregularities and forged import documents, prompting the ED to step in for a deeper probe into the foreign exchange angle.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday gave actor Dulquer Salmaan permission to apply for the provisional release of his seized car. In his plea, the actor said he had purchased the vehicle legally and in good faith. He also submitted documents claiming that the car had originally been shipped by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to New Delhi. His plea suggested there was no intent to evade import duties.
As investigations continue, officials say the focus will now be on identifying the masterminds behind the Coimbatore network, including the fake documentation process, and the possible use of hawala routes to finance the transactions.
The ED’s operation is still ongoing across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. More searches and questioning expected in the coming days.
Advertisement
