Amidst an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on properties linked to him, actor Dulquer Salmaan has been observed avoiding questions from the press. The ED's actions are part of a larger investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and a luxury car smuggling case.
On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, ED officials conducted searches at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including residences and establishments connected to Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Amit Chakkalackal. The raids are linked to the alleged smuggling of high-end, pre-owned luxury vehicles and unauthorized foreign exchange transactions.
Salmaan was spotted arriving in Kochi on Wednesday afternoon, amidst the ED raids. Dressed casually, he was approached by reporters seeking comments on the situation. However, the actor declined to answer any questions, walking past the press and leaving in his car. Videos of the incident have been circulating online.
The ED's investigation follows an earlier operation by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate in Kochi, which raided over 30 locations and seized luxury vehicles as part of "Operation Numkhor". This operation targeted tax evasion and illegally imported vehicles, with authorities suspecting a Coimbatore-based racket of smuggling the vehicles from Bhutan into India. Customs officials seized Dulquer Salmaan's Land Rover Defender during the earlier raids.
Earlier in the week, Salmaan sought relief from the Kerala High Court regarding the seizure of his Land Rover Defender, claiming it was legally purchased and registered. The court directed him to approach the adjudicating authority under the Customs Act to request the vehicle's release and instructed Customs to decide on the application within a week. The court also criticized Customs for publicly revealing the names of vehicle owners whose cars were seized and questioned the basis for claiming the vehicles carried fake registrations.
The ED's investigation has revealed preliminary violations of FEMA, including unauthorized foreign exchange transactions and payments routed through hawala. The agency is expected to file a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to further investigate the allegations. The ED's involvement adds a financial crime dimension to the case, which initially focused on luxury car smuggling.
