ED raids homes of Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in luxury car smuggling case

Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Suumaran's homes raided by ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched 17 premises in Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Wednesday (October 8) as part of a big operation related to a case of smuggling luxury cars and breaching foreign exchange restrictions.

The police searched the houses and belongings of Malayalam cinema stars Amit Chakkalakkal, Dulquer Salmaan, and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

The operation covered 17 premises, including the residences and establishments of film stars Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Amit Chakkalakkal, as well as certain vehicle owners, automobile workshops, and traders in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore.

Details about the investigation

The raids are part of a larger investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). It all started with a Customs case that identified a group of people smuggling luxury cars from Bhutan into India, registering them, and then selling them in India in a murky way.

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The group may have allegedly utilised fake documents from the Ministry of External Affairs, the US Embassy, and Indian Army units, as well as RTOs, to register illegally in states like Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.

People say that high-end cars like Maseratis, Defenders, and Land Cruisers are among the ones engaged.

Government sources say that these cars were subsequently sold to privileged people, including Hollywood stars, for less money.

The raids took place in many areas, including Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore. They targeted luxury car stores, auto businesses, and actors' homes.

The law's reaction and progress

No one named in the investigation has been officially charged yet. Dulquer Salmaan is said to have moved court because he thinks that due process wasn't followed when one of his automobiles was stolen and that it was bought legitimately.

He went to the Kerala High Court to stop the seizure.

The news says that the judge gave the Customs department a week to look into the case. Dulquer Salmaan has also been called to court, and customs has taken at least two cars that are linked to the case.

This is part of a larger campaign to stop people from buying luxury products and cars from other nations and then without paying their taxes. The participation of well-known public personalities has attracted attention to issues with enforcing customs and foreign exchange laws and controlling expensive import.