The Kochi residences of actors Prithviraj Sukumaran and Dulquer Salmaan were raided as part of Operation Numkhor. The actors were under scrutiny in the luxury cars smuggling case. Their vehicles are under scrutiny, though no suspect
Dulquer and Prithviraj
The Kochi residences of actors Prithviraj Sukumaran and Dulquer Salmaan were searched by the Customs and Central Excise Department as part of Operation Numkhor. Sleuths from the Customs Preventive wing are carrying out raids at multiple locations across Kerala aimed at tracking down those bringing vehicles from Bhutan to India through fake registrations to evade tax, official sources said here on Tuesday.
Prithviraj and Dulquer Salmaan's Kochi residence raided
Among the locations where the raids--codenamed Operation Numkhorare being conducted are the residences of Malayalam actors Prithviraj and Dulquer Salmaan, they said. In the Bhutanese language, 'Numkhor' means 'vehicle'. The raids are progressing simultaneously in various locations, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Malappuram.
According to customs officials, pre-owned SUVs from Bhutan were allegedly smuggled into India without paying taxes and sold to businessmen and film industry figures in Kerala. Customs officials said the raids were being carried out after instances of high-end vehicles being brought from Bhutan as second-hand ones without paying tax. There are around 15 such violations, they said. Asked about the raids at the residences of the film stars, an official at the Customs Preventive Commissionerate said the documents of their vehicles are being examined.
About the raid
Officials, however, though they reached the actors' homes, were unable to locate the suspected vehicles. Customs officials, working closely with the Motor Vehicles Department, are also conducting thorough checks at prominent car showrooms across the state.
According to the officials, they will seize the vehicles, and notices will be served to those from whom the vehicles are seized and they will be asked to produce the relevant papers of the vehicles. Investigations have revealed that eight types of high-end vehicles were imported into India via Bhutan, with taxes evaded.
The scheme involves first registering the vehicles in Himachal Pradesh before transporting them to various parts of India, with registration numbers often altered to conceal their origin.
Dulquer and Prithviraj's upcoming movies
On the work front for actors, Dulquer is currently basking in the success of his production venture Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra. While, prithviraj will be seen in Meghna Gulzar’s Daayra, which also stars Kareena Kapoor.
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