Customs Dept lets go of 33 Vehicles Seized under Operation Numkhor, Cars of Actors Dulquer Salmaan and Amit Still in Custody
The vehicles were released provisionally, pending completion of adjudication proceedings.
The Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive), Kochi, has released 33 of the 39 luxury vehicles seized during Operation Numkhor to their owners for safe custody under Section 110A of the Customs Act, 1962, officials confirmed.
According to customs sources, the release was made after owners furnished bonds and undertakings as required by the adjudicating authority.
Six vehicles, including actor Dulquer Salmaan’s Land Rover Defender and actor Amit Chakkalakkal’s Toyota Land Cruiser remain under customs custody. Officials clarified that owners of these vehicles may apply for provisional release by following the procedure prescribed under the Customs Act.
Operation Numkhor was a statewide enforcement drive by the CCP (Customs Preventive Commissionerate) targeting a network allegedly involved in smuggling luxury cars into Kerala and registering them using forged documents issued by transport authorities in other states. The vehicles were reportedly sold to buyers in Kerala at reduced prices, bypassing import duties and taxes.
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A senior official stated that the 33 vehicles released were allowed on account of practical difficulties in maintaining them for long periods in customs yards. However, the release is for safekeeping only owners are not permitted to use or transfer the vehicles until final adjudication.
The customs department noted that over 140 vehicles in Kerala are suspected to be linked to the illegal racket.
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Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed actor Dulquer Salmaan to approach the adjudicating authority under the Customs Act for the provisional release of his 2004 Land Rover Defender. A Bench led by Justice A. Ziyad Rahman passed the direction while hearing Dulquer’s petition challenging the seizure.
The High Court directed the adjudicating authority to consider his application promptly and issue an order within a week after affording him an opportunity to be heard. The Court also instructed that the authority take into account the fact that Dulquer’s vehicle had been registered based on valid documents issued by registering authorities over the past two decades.
Customs, in its affidavit, claimed that the actor’s vehicle was seized based on intelligence inputs indicating possible smuggling. It also stated that two other vehicles registered in Dulquer’s name had been seized earlier, which he had not contested.
Counsel for the actor argued that prolonged seizure of the vehicle would cause hardship and financial loss, and sought its interim release subject to any conditions the department might impose.
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