Dulquer Salmaan Battles Customs in Kerala High Court Over Seized Luxury Car

On September 26, 2025, popular Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan filed a petition in the Kerala High Court seeking the release of his vehicle seized by Customs officials as part of their ongoing investigation into alleged tax evasion involving luxury cars.

The Customs department had recently conducted a state-wide operation codenamed 'Operation Numkhor', targeting luxury vehicles allegedly brought into India through middlemen from Bhutan and sold locally without paying the required taxes. As part of this crackdown, Customs seized a total of 36 vehicles across Kerala, including two belonging to Dulquer Salmaan.

In his petition, Dulquer stated that he had purchased the vehicle, a 2004 Land Rover Defender, under the genuine belief that the previous owner had valid ownership and that it was properly registered. He claimed his representatives had submitted all relevant documents, but officials allegedly took the papers without acknowledgement and seized the vehicle on September 23, 2025, without proper inquiry.

Dulquer also expressed concern over the media coverage surrounding the seizure, saying it portrayed his vehicle alongside others allegedly used for smuggling, narcotics, and anti-state activities, which he said damaged his reputation. The actor argued that the seizure could not have been justified without verifying the origin and documentation of the vehicle, which he said was shipped by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to its New Delhi Regional Delegation and cleared through proper channels.

The Kerala High Court has now directed the Customs department to file a reply to Dulquer's petition and posted the matter for further hearing on September 30, 2025.