Malayalam actors Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran were among those targeted in major customs raids across Kerala on Tuesday. The operation followed reports that luxury vehicles were being illegally imported from Bhutan using forged documents. Officials carried out searches at 30 locations, including the residences of the popular actors, as well as other suspected individuals.
During the raids, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized two high-end cars from Dulquer Salmaan: a Land Rover Defender and a Toyota Land Cruiser. One vehicle was registered in Thrissur, Kerala, and the other in Tamil Nadu. Neither car was directly registered under Dulquer’s name; he is reportedly listed as the third owner. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the true ownership of these vehicles and are also reviewing documents for two other cars connected to him. Dulquer may be summoned to provide registration papers and additional documentation as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Another Malayalam actor, Amit Chacko, faced raids at his residence during the same operation. Officials reportedly seized seven vehicles from his property. Amit clarified that only one of the seized cars belongs to him, while the remaining vehicles belong to others.
The raids spanned multiple districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, and Malappuram. Investigators suspect that luxury vehicles are being registered in Himachal Pradesh and then transported to other states. Officials estimate that nearly 150–200 vehicles may have been illegally imported into India using forged documents. Luxury car showrooms linked to such imports have also received notices as part of the investigation.
Customs authorities are taking strict action to prevent illegal imports and enforce proper registration and documentation procedures. The raids have drawn significant attention due to the involvement of prominent actors and the high value of the seized vehicles.
The operation highlights growing scrutiny of luxury car imports in India and the measures being implemented to curb forgery and unlawful ownership. Authorities are committed to ensuring compliance with the law and tracking all vehicles involved in such schemes.
Both Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran have not yet publicly commented on the raids, but industry sources say they are cooperating with authorities.
