Kerala’s Mollywood industry is under fire after superstar Dulquer Salmaan, along with actors Prithviraj Sukumaran and Amit Chakkalakkal, came under the scanner in a luxury car smuggling case. Customs officials, under Operation Numkoor, carried out raids at nearly 30 locations across the state, seizing dozens of illegally imported vehicles and uncovering forged documents with Army and Embassy insignia.
Raids on Film Stars
Surprise raids were conducted on September 23 across districts, including Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Thiruvananthapuram. Dulquer’s residence was searched, with officials reportedly seizing his Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser. Irregularities were detected in the registration of his Land Cruiser, which carried a Fitness Certificate valid till 2031, unusual for a 28-year-old vehicle.
Prithviraj was also summoned to present documents for his Defender. Meanwhile, actor Amit Chakkalakkal’s residence saw eight vehicles seized, though he publicly denied this, stating only one was taken and it carried proper papers.
Officials confirmed that more stars from the Malayalam film industry could face questioning in the coming days.
Operation Numkoor and Seizures
Launched by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Customs, Operation Numkoor aims to bust a nationwide racket smuggling luxury cars from Bhutan into Bharat. The word “Numkoor” means “vehicle” in Bhutanese. Investigators revealed that many of the vehicles originated from Bhutan’s armed forces and were illegally transported into Bharat through forged papers.
A total of 36 luxury cars were seized during the raids. Reports suggest 150–200 vehicles were smuggled into Kerala by a Coimbatore-based network and later sold through second-hand showrooms. Many were registered fraudulently in Himachal Pradesh before being shipped into Kerala, taking advantage of loopholes in state systems.
Forged Papers and Black Money Links
Investigations uncovered forged documents allegedly carrying seals of the Indian Army and foreign embassies, including the US Embassy. Such forgeries were used to deceive buyers, creating the impression that the vehicles had official origins.
Officials also suspect links to black money, GST evasion, and even money laundering. The misuse of the mParivahan registration system is now under probe, and both the GST Department and Enforcement Directorate may join the investigation.
Customs Commissioner T. Tiju warned that this racket represents more than tax evasion. “If they can smuggle cars, they can smuggle anything, gold, narcotics, or worse. It is a threat to national and economic security,” he said.
Modus Operandi of the Racket
Authorities revealed multiple methods used by smugglers:
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Cars were brought into Bharat in completely knocked-down condition, then reassembled.
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Vehicles were transported inside containers or disguised as tourist vehicles.
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Some were sold at highly discounted prices, reportedly around ₹25 lakh for models otherwise priced much higher.
Inspections also showed how Bhutanese provisions allowing citizens to drive into Bharat were misused. Vehicles entered as temporary imports but were later sold illegally.
A Cloud Over Mollywood
The involvement of top Mollywood stars has sent shockwaves through the industry. Dulquer, son of veteran actor Mammootty, is one of Kerala’s most bankable actors with a strong national following. Prithviraj, too, enjoys star status, both as an actor and director. Their association with a scandal of this scale is bound to have lasting consequences.
As investigations deepen, the spotlight is firmly on accountability. The raids have already exposed cracks in the system, from forged papers to state registration loopholes. For Kerala’s film industry, long accused of operating under an opaque power structure, Operation Numkoor may be the wake-up call it can no longer ignore.
