Following the directions of the Kerala High Court, the Customs Department has released actor Dulquer Salmaan’s Land Rover Defender, which was seized earlier this year as part of Operation Numkhor, a major crackdown on luxury vehicles allegedly imported through tax evasion routes.
The release, however, comes with stringent conditions, as the investigation into the case remains ongoing.
According to Mathrubhumi, the order for the vehicle’s conditional release was issued by the Additional Commissioner of Customs, following directions from the Kerala High Court, which had instructed Customs authorities to consider Dulquer’s plea and take a decision within a week.
As per the order, Dulquer is prohibited from taking the vehicle outside without obtaining prior approval from the Customs Department. Additionally, he has been directed to make the vehicle available for inspection or inquiry whenever required during the course of the investigation.
The actor had approached the High Court seeking the provisional release of the vehicle, claiming that it was purchased through legitimate means and that he had furnished all documents substantiating the legality of its acquisition. Dulquer reportedly submitted the vehicle’s complete import records, indicating that it was originally brought into India in 2004.
The Land Rover Defender was among several high-end vehicles seized during Operation Numkhor, an enforcement drive launched by Customs to uncover luxury cars imported via Bhutan and other regions by evading customs duties and taxes. The operation has led to the seizure of multiple premium vehicles and is part of a wider probe into illegal vehicle import networks across southern India.
The conditional return of Dulquer’s vehicle marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation, even as Customs officials continue to scrutinize documentation and the trail of imports connected to the case.
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