Actor Dulquer Salmaan moves High Court after Customs seizes his SUV after searches in Kerala

One of Dulquer’s vehicles, a Land Rover SUV, was among the cars seized. It has been alleged that the SUV was smuggled from Bhutan by an organised racket.

Challenging the Customs action, Dulquer moved the court, seeking a direction to the agency that the seized vehicle be released, as he had completed all legal formalities before obtaining it. He alleged that the Customs action was arbitrary and illegal.

Posting the matter to next Tuesday, the court sought instructions from Customs. The actor has claimed that the seized car had been in his possession for the last five years and that it has all required valid documents.

After the searches, Customs Preventive Commissioner T Tiju had said that the agency had learnt of 150-200 such smuggled vehicles from Bhutan having reached Kerala.

The agency said it has identified a gang behind it, and that they have been targeting high-net-worth individuals. “We will examine the documents of the seized vehicles and record the statements of the owners after issuing summons to them,” he said.

He said expensive cars were smuggled into India through various means from Bhutan. “Vehicles had been smuggled into India in CKD (completely knocked down) form or in containers. Apart from these routes, tourists have also driven these vehicles to India and returned after leaving them here,” Tiju said.