High-Octane Probe: Customs Raids Residences of Kerala's Film Stars in Luxury Car Smuggling Crackdown

A sweeping investigation into the illicit import and fraudulent registration of high-end luxury vehicles has sent ripples through Kerala's elite, with prominent film actors Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran among those whose residences were recently subjected to raids by Customs officials.

The intensive operation, spearheaded by the Customs Preventive Unit and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), signals a serious crackdown on a sophisticated network suspected of evading substantial taxes on premium imported cars.

The raids, conducted across various locations including the sprawling residences of the celebrated actors in Kochi, are part of a broader intelligence-gathering effort to dismantle what authorities describe as a multi-crore racket.

Sources close to the investigation reveal that the probe focuses on vehicles brought into the country through dubious means, often involving the fraudulent registration of these cars in Union Territories like Puducherry.

This cunning modus operandi allows owners to exploit the significantly lower road tax rates in these regions, thereby circumventing the much higher taxes applicable in states like Kerala. Allegations suggest that fake addresses and forged documentation are commonly employed to facilitate these illicit registrations, resulting in massive revenue losses for the state exchequer.

While the Customs department has not yet disclosed specific details regarding the findings from the actors' homes, the raids underscore the gravity of the allegations.

Officials are meticulously scrutinizing ownership documents, import papers, and registration details of the luxury vehicles found at these premises, comparing them against their extensive database of illegally imported or fraudulently registered cars.

This ongoing crackdown is not limited to celebrity figures; it extends to a wider circle of affluent businessmen and vehicle dealers suspected of involvement in the racket.

The Customs and DRI have been diligently tracking leads, consolidating evidence, and are prepared to take stringent action against all individuals found complicit in these large-scale tax evasion schemes.

The implications of this probe are significant, potentially leading to the seizure of numerous luxury vehicles and severe penalties for those found guilty.

As the investigation progresses, the entertainment industry and the public alike watch keenly for further developments, as authorities aim to send a clear message against financial impropriety and uphold the sanctity of tax laws.