Operation Numkhor: 7 Central Agencies to Probe Bhutan Car Smuggling Case as Dulquer Salmaan Challenges Customs Seizure in Kerala HC [Read Order]

The Customs Preventive under “Operation Numkhor” in recent days seized a red Nissan Patrol SUV from a flat in Vennala, Kochi belonging to a relative, marking the third vehicle connected to the actor to come under scrutiny.

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Officials allege the car was smuggled into India through Bhutan, re-registered in Himachal Pradesh and later purchased by Dulquer. The seizure came just days after the actor approached the High Court seeking release of another vehicle, a 2004 model Land Rover Defender that had been confiscated earlier.

High Court Petition

Dulquer Salman, had instituted Writ Petition No. 35869 of 2025 on September 26 before the Bench of Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A.

Dulquer, represented by a team of advocates led by G. Mini and A. Kumar, sought an interim direction for release of his seized Land Rover Defender bearing the registration number TN01AS0155. The petition relied on documents including the bill of entry invoice and customs clearance papers to assert that the purchase was legitimate and that seizure was arbitrary.

The respondents, including the Commissioner and Preventive officers of the CBIC were represented by Standing Counsel V. Girishkumar. By an interim order dated September 26, the Kerala High Court directed the Customs Department to obtain instructions and posted the matter for further hearing on September 30.

Background of Operation Numkhor

Operation Numkhor was launched earlier this month by the Customs Preventive Department across multiple districts including Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram. In the first wave of searches, 36 luxury vehicles were seized, including those traced to actors Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Amit Chakkalakkal.

Customs officials said the racket involved importing abandoned Bhutanese Army vehicles and in some cases, involved stolen foreign cars that were dismantled abroad and routed through Bhutan before being reassembled in India. Reports suggest that registration irregularities on the Parivahan portal have allegedly occurred with the collusion of state motor vehicle department officials as well.

Customs has alleged that payments for many of these cars were made outside banking channels, raising suspicions of money laundering. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has informed the High Court that it will also examine the case.

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In total, seven central agencies are now involved:

• Customs
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for irregularities involving motor vehicle officers
• ED to investigate money laundering
• the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Intelligence to check suspicion on tax frauds
• the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate foreign links
• the Intelligence Bureau (IB)
• and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to aid in the collection of intel.

Widening Probe

Investigators estimate that nearly 200 such vehicles may have been sold in Kerala in the last five years under the guise of Bhutanese Army auctions.

With the involvement of seven central agencies, Operation Numkhor has transformed from a state-level customs crackdown into a full-scale national investigation, drawing major national agencies into the web.

The coordinated inquiry is expected to trace the entire supply chain of smuggling, from international theft networks to local registrations, making it one of the most extensive operations against vehicle smuggling ever undertaken in Kerala.

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