‘My vehicle is only Land Cruiser with Madhya Pradesh registration, five brought to garage for repair works’

KOCHI: Actor Amit Chakkalakkal said that only one of his vehicles was seized by the customs in the case of vehicles being smuggled to India from Bhutan without paying tax. He said that his vehicle is only the Land Cruiser with Madhya Pradesh registration. The other five vehicles were brought to the garage for repair works. He also clarified that he had confirmed this to the customs.

'I have submitted all the documents of my vehicle. The owners of the five vehicles have been informed. They have been given ten days to submit the documents. The customs have inquired about my connection with those vehicles. The customs have also informed that they will summon me after examining the documents,' said Amit.

Meanwhile, the customs preventive department has started an intensive investigation. A notice will be issued to many including actor Dulquer Salmaan asking him to appear in person after two of his vehicles were seized. The customs commissioner had told media the other day that money laundering is suspected in the case of smuggling luxury vehicles from abroad. None of the buyers of the vehicles had paid money through direct channels. In this situation, it is possible that the enforcement directorate may also file a case.

The residences of actors Prithviraj, Dulquer Salmaan and Amit Chakkalakkal were raided yesterday. The vehicles the celebrities purchased from middlemen and second-hand showrooms trapped them.

The raid was in the name of ‘Operation 'Numkhor'. The aim was to arrest the gang that smuggles and sells vintage vehicles abandoned by the Bhutanese army. The vehicles were purchased by celebrities by paying more than Rs 25 lakh. The raid was conducted at 35 locations, including the homes of middlemen who smuggled the vehicles from Bhutan and those who bought the vehicles from second-hand showrooms. The raid, which began in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram yesterday morning, continued till evening.