A courtroom challenge to the Customs department by Dulquer Salmaan, ED raids are followed within 24 hours by Enforcement Directorate raids on his family and fellow actor Prithviraj, bringing Kerala’s film icons under intense scrutiny.
Courtroom Battle Turns into a Legal Storm
On October 7, 2025, Malayalam superstar Dulquer Salmaan approached the Kerala High Court challenging the Customs department’s seizure of his luxury Land Rover Defender. Dulquer argued that the SUV, purchased five years earlier through legitimate banking channels, had been wrongfully seized and urged the court to order its release.
The court declined immediate relief, advising Dulquer to approach the Customs adjudicating authority under the Customs Act for provisional release, while observing that the grounds of seizure required closer examination.
Barely a day later, the situation escalated when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched raids at multiple locations linked to Dulquer, his father Mammootty, and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Raids Across Kerala and Tamil Nadu
On October 8, 2025, ED teams fanned out across 17 locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including residential and business premises in Ernakulam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, Coimbatore, and Chennai. Among the searched sites were Dulquer’s Chennai residence and the iconic “Mammootty House” in Kochi.
The searches were part of a broader investigation into a suspected luxury car smuggling racket involving alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations and potential hawala transactions for purchasing high-end vehicles.
The Alleged Car Smuggling Network
Investigators believe that a syndicate operating out of Coimbatore smuggled luxury vehicles—including Land Rover Defenders, Toyota Land Cruisers, Maseratis, and other high-end SUVs—into India via Bhutan and Nepal. These vehicles were reportedly imported using fake documentation in the names of entities like the Indian Army, Ministry of External Affairs, and even US Embassy credentials, enabling them to bypass hefty import duties.
Once brought in, the cars were allegedly registered in far-flung states to evade local scrutiny, then sold to elite clients, including celebrities. The ED alleges prima facie violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA, pertaining to unauthorized forex transactions and cross-border payments.
Star Power in the Spotlight
The involvement of three of Kerala’s biggest cinema stars has turned the investigation into a national talking point. While Mammootty has not been accused of any wrongdoing so far, his home was searched as part of the investigation into ownership trails of certain vehicles.
Dulquer maintains that his car was legally purchased, stating that all payments were made via banks with customs clearance at the time of purchase. Prithviraj Sukumaran has not yet issued an official statement, but sources close to the actor insist he too followed due procedures in acquiring his vehicles.
Legal and Public Reactions
The back-to-back developments—first the court hearing and then the Dulquer Salmaan ED raids—have sparked heated debates on social media and among legal experts. Supporters of the actors have criticised what they call “targeted harassment”, while enforcement officials argue that the timing of the raids was coincidental and part of a long-planned operation.
The case has also raised broader questions about due process—whether simultaneous actions by Customs and ED undermine judicial oversight—and the scale of illegal luxury car imports in India.
What Lies Ahead
So far, the ED has not made any arrests or announced formal charges against the actors. Investigations are continuing to trace money trails, verify vehicle import records, and examine alleged hawala links.
The controversy underscores India’s intensified crackdown on illegal imports and tax evasion involving high-value goods. For the Malayalam film industry and fans of its megastars, the unfolding probe is both a legal drama and a real-life cliffhanger.
FOR MORE BLOGS – beyondthepunchlines.com
Author: Team BTP
Add to favorites
