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The plea submitted by the actor notes that the vehicle had been cleared through a bill of entry for home consumption filed by the ICRC as consignee.
Malyalam actor Dulquer Salmaan (Image: dqsalmaan/Instagram)
Actor Dulquer Salmaan on Friday approached the Kerala High Court seeking to release his vehicle seized by the customs, days after raids were conducted at his residence after the smuggling of luxury cars into India via Bhutan without paying taxes.
The officials also seized two luxury cars during the searches conducted under Operation Numkhor.
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According to Salmaan’s petition, the vehicle in question is a 2004 model Land Rover Defender. The documents submitted with the plea state that the vehicle was originally shipped by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to its regional delegation in New Delhi, covered under an invoice dated June 8, 2004.
The petition further notes that the vehicle had been cleared through a bill of entry for home consumption filed by the ICRC as consignee.
The actor submitted that the importer of record is the ICRC, and therefore, no seizure could have been legally effected without considering the origin and authenticity of the documentation.
He also raised concerns about the matter being publicised in the media, affecting his reputation.
“Publicity was given in media for vested reasons on the seizure, and the vehicle was carried as though included with certain other vehicles as being used for smuggling, carrying drugs, contraband and for anti-state activities. This has put the petitioner in a bad light, affecting his reputation,” it said.
The plea further notes that the seizure was effected and possession taken hastily without any enquiry or even advertence to any material. It is arbitrarily made on mere suspicion, and without a basis for any reasonable belief as against this particular vehicle.
The High Court has directed Customs to file its reply to the petition, and has posted the matter for further hearing on September 30.
Kerala, India, India
September 26, 2025, 16:27 IST
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