Ernakulam: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, as part of an investigation into a luxury car smuggling and illegal foreign exchange network. The searches targeted residences and offices, including those linked to prominent Malayalam actors Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amith Chakkalackal.
The ED's action is connected to a case involving the alleged smuggling of luxury vehicles from Bhutan to India and unauthorized foreign exchange dealings. The syndicate is suspected of using forged documents for vehicle imports and registrations to evade customs duties. Officials are currently tracing the money trail and identifying the beneficiaries of the scheme.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for some time, gained momentum following a crackdown by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs officials, dubbed "Operation Numkhor". This operation exposed significant tax evasion through illegal imports routed via Bhutan. Initial reports suggest that the vehicles, some of which were formerly used by the Bhutanese royal army, were acquired at low auction prices and then resold in India after being registered with fake addresses to avoid hefty import duties.
During the earlier raids, Customs officials examined the documents of vehicles owned by the actors. While no vehicles belonging to Prithviraj Sukumaran were seized during the initial operation, two vehicles linked to Dulquer Salmaan were identified. Authorities are investigating whether the actors were aware of the alleged illegalities when they purchased the vehicles.
The ED's involvement suggests a deeper probe into potential violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and money laundering aspects of the case. According to T. Tiju, Commissioner of the Customs Preventive Commissionerate in Kochi, the investigation is also looking into possible links between the funds generated from these illegal activities and terrorist financing.
The raids, conducted with the assistance of the Transport Commissionerate of Kerala, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and the state police, are based on intelligence inputs about the smuggling of high-value second-hand cars into India through the Indo-Bhutan border. The ED is expected to share details with the Ministry of External Affairs, as forged embassy documents are suspected to have been used in registering some of the vehicles.
Authorities have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that further details will be revealed as the probe progresses. The focus remains on verifying vehicle ownership trails and dismantling the network involved in the smuggling operation.
