Dulquer Salmaan has come under fresh scrutiny after customs officials seized a Nissan Patrol linked to him. The car is reportedly part of a wider investigation into an alleged smuggling network of luxury SUVs.The seizure was carried out by Customs as part of ‘Operation Nomkhor’, a large-scale investigation led by the Office of the Customs Commissioner (Preventive) in Cochin. In the latest round of searches, officials seized eight luxury SUVs from different parts of Kerala.The car that appeared in Dulquer Salmaan’s film “Lucky Baskhar”.The stolen Nissan Patrol attracted attention after appearing in Lucky Paskhare. Reports from Mathrubhumi say that during the promotional interviews for the film, Dulquer reportedly claimed that the on-screen SUV belonged to him. Customs officials did not confirm whether the perpetrator was the legal owner. They said they are still studying the ownership path and have not reached a final conclusion.Customs shares details of the investigationMathrubhumi Customs told, “The car has recently gained attention after featuring in the Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Lucky Baskhar. During promotional interviews for the film, Dulquer Salmaan has often claimed that the Nissan Patrol car featured in the film was his own.”
Officials seized the SUV based on a “reasonable belief” that the vehicle had been illegally driven into India through the porous land border between Bhutan and Nepal, evading hefty local import taxes and customs duties.
We are currently checking if the car has any permanent ownership link to the actor himself.Authorities suspect that the SUVs were brought to India from Bhutan and were transported through middlemen in Delhi before reaching buyers in Kerala.What is the Nomkhor process?Operation Nomkhor began in September 2025. The name comes from the word dzongkha, which means “vehicle.” Investigators say the operation uncovered a large cross-border smuggling and fraudulent registration network.Officials believe the luxury cars were illegally imported and re-registered using fabricated documents to avoid paying heavy customs duties and taxes.Customs had earlier seized more than 45 vehicles from different parts of Kerala.
Investigators are also examining the role of buyers and middlemen linked to the alleged racket.Amith Chakalakal and Dulquer Salmaan are among the public figures said to be under scrutiny as authorities continue to check property records and financial transactions. The investigation is still ongoing, and Customs reported that the actor’s ownership link to the seized vehicle is still under verification.