Customs raid Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj’s homes over alleged illegal import of luxury vehicles

Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 24, 2025: The Customs Preventive wing was on Tuesday (September 23, 2025) conducting state-wide raids at the residences and premises of high-net-worth individuals in Kerala, including prominent actors and industrialists, as part of a crackdown on alleged illegal import of premium vehicles numbering over 100 from Bhutan.

The operation is named Numkhor, which in Bhutanese means ‘vehicle.’

Customs has been tracking the alleged illegal import of second-hand vehicles from Bhutan. Following this, the agency embarked on a Statewide raid, which is under way at 30 locations, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kuttippuram, and Thrissur.

Customs officials have examined the houses of actors Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in Kochi.

“The Indian law prohibits the import of second-hand vehicles. We have identified illegal importing involves 10 to 15 violations, including forgeries on the Parivahan website of the Motor Vehicles department and our website,” said Customs sources.

None of the vehicles involved is manufactured in India. It is suspected that the new vehicles have been illegally imported as used vehicles through Bhutan. Vehicles found to have been illegally imported would be seized. Owners unable to produce relevant documents will face punitive measures, they said.