ED raids Malayalam stars Dulquer Salmaan, Mammootty, and Prithviraj Sukumaran under ‘Operation Numkhor’ linked to luxury car smuggling and FEMA violations.
News Delhi/Kochi/Chennai | October 8, 2025 | The Interview Times — In a dramatic twist to the luxury car smuggling investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday raided the residences and offices of Malayalam film stars Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan, and Prithviraj Sukumaran across Kerala and Tamil Nadu as part of ‘Operation Numkhor’.
The ED’s searches, conducted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), came a day after Dulquer challenged Customs in the Kerala High Court over the seizure of his Land Rover Defender.
The central agency confirmed it was investigating “unauthorised foreign exchange dealings” and possible smuggling of high-end vehicles including Land Cruisers, Defenders, and Maseratis, all allegedly linked to Operation Numkhor.
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What Is ‘Operation Numkhor’?
‘Operation Numkhor’ — named after the Bhutanese word for “vehicle” — is an ongoing investigation launched by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, on September 23.
The operation exposed a cross-border racket that allegedly smuggled dozens of luxury cars into India through Bhutan and Nepal, using forged documents and hawala transactions.
Customs officials had earlier seized 37 vehicles, including some registered in the names of Dulquer Salmaan and actor Amit Chakkalakkal, prompting ED to widen the probe.
ED Raids Dulquer, Mammootty, and Prithviraj in Ongoing Investigation
The ED confirmed that it carried out searches at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including Ernakulam, Coimbatore, and Chennai.
Residences of Dulquer in Chennai’s Greams Road and Mammootty’s long-time home in Kochi, known as Mammootty House, were among those searched. The raids were also extended to business premises and dealers suspected of involvement in the racket.
In an unusual move, the ED issued a public statement even before concluding the searches, saying:
“The Kochi Zonal Office is conducting search operations under FEMA, 1999 at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu in connection with the ongoing probe into smuggling of high-end luxury vehicles and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings under Operation Numkhor.”
Luxury Car Smuggling Route Uncovered Under ‘Operation Numkhor’
According to preliminary findings, a Coimbatore-based network imported luxury vehicles through fraudulent channels. The group allegedly used fake documents bearing the names of the Indian Army, U.S. Embassy, and Ministry of External Affairs to secure fraudulent vehicle registrations in states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
Once registered, the vehicles were sold at undervalued rates to wealthy buyers, including well-known film celebrities.
The ED stated that prima facie violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA had been detected, involving unauthorised foreign exchange transactions and payments routed through hawala channels.
“Further investigation is underway to trace the money trail, beneficiary network, and foreign exchange movement,” said an ED official involved in Operation Numkhor.
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Court Twist: Dulquer’s Legal Challenge Precedes ED Action
The ED raids came just one day after Dulquer Salmaan approached the Kerala High Court, challenging the Customs department’s seizure of his car.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Ziyad Rahman A A observed that provisional release of seized property under Section 110A of the Customs Act was a right. The court asked Customs to issue a “speaking order” if refusing such release and questioned the department’s evidence.
“What evidence do you have? No information even in sealed cover,” the Judge said. “You may investigate, but you cannot deny ownership of a property bought lawfully.”
Dulquer’s petition asserted that he purchased the vehicle in good faith nearly five years ago, paying through legitimate banking channels and armed with customs clearances, invoices, and delivery notes. The car, he said, was originally imported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in New Delhi.
What Happens Next in ‘Operation Numkhor’?
Officials said the ED’s action is not limited to individual actors but forms part of a larger cross-border syndicate investigation. Sources indicated that businessmen, dealers, and transport agents across South India are also under scrutiny.
The agency’s decision to issue a press release mid-search was reportedly made to maintain transparency, after earlier criticism that Customs had acted without strong evidence in prior seizures under Operation Numkhor.
Both Customs and the ED are now working in coordination to trace the money trail and ownership chain behind the imported luxury vehicles. More summonses and statements are expected in the coming days.
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