Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran's Houses Raided Over Luxury Car Tax Evasion

Authorities have initiated a nationwide operation called 'Numkhor' targeting luxury car tax evasion, with Kerala serving as a primary focus area for investigations.

Officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Customs are conducting extensive inspections across 30 locations throughout Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts.

The operation has drawn public attention as investigators visited the homes of prominent actors Prithviraj and Dulquer Salmaan, though the suspected vehicles were not found at these residences.

Various high-profile individuals across Kerala are also under investigation as part of this widespread enforcement action.

In collaboration with the Motor Vehicles Department, customs officials are systematically examining luxury car showrooms throughout the state.

The operational procedure involves seizing suspected vehicles and issuing notices to owners, who must then provide legitimate documentation for their automobiles.

Investigations have uncovered a sophisticated scheme involving eight categories of luxury vehicles imported through Bhutan to evade taxation requirements.

The evasion method follows a specific pattern: vehicles are initially registered in Himachal Pradesh before being transported across India, often with altered registration numbers to mask their origins.

Officials clarified that while celebrity residences have garnered significant media coverage, the operation methodically targets both commercial showrooms and individual importers suspected of circumventing tax obligations.

The luxury automobile sector is particularly vulnerable to such illegal practices due to the substantial market value of these vehicles, necessitating comprehensive inspections.

Authorities have indicated that 'Numkhor' will proceed in multiple phases, with particular attention to documentation verification, registration protocols, and transportation channels.

Despite the heightened interest in celebrity involvement, officials emphasize that the operation represents standard procedural enforcement as part of broader national efforts to protect revenue and ensure regulatory compliance.

This coordinated approach—combining district-level inspections, interagency cooperation, and scrutiny of high-value imports—demonstrates the government's resolve to counter sophisticated tax evasion schemes in the luxury automobile market while affirming that all importers are subject to legal accountability.