DRI, Customs operation targets luxury car tax evasion, actors and others on radar
Indian authorities have kicked off a nationwide crackdown on luxury car tax evasion with Operation Numkhor, led by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Customs. Kerala stands out as a major hotspot in this effort, drawing sharp focus from officials.
Teams are raiding 30 spots across districts like Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, and Malappuram. The searches hit big names too, including the homes of popular Malayalam actors Prithviraj and Dulquer Salmaan. Even though officers showed up at their residences, they couldn’t find the suspected vehicles there.
The operation zeros in on high-profile folks in Kerala, along with key car showrooms statewide. Customs officials are teaming up with the Motor Vehicles Department for these detailed checks. If they spot issues, they’ll seize the cars and issue notices to owners, demanding proof of proper paperwork.
Investigators uncovered a sneaky scheme: eight models of high-end luxury vehicles smuggled into India through Bhutan without paying taxes. These cars first get registered in Himachal Pradesh, then move to other states like Kerala, often with fake or swapped license plates to hide their tracks.
Officials stress that while celebrity homes grab headlines, the raids follow a structured plan. They target both dealerships and private buyers suspected of dodging luxury car taxes. With these vehicles fetching top dollar, they’re prime targets for such scams, so authorities are leaving no stone unturned.
Operation Numkhor will roll out in several phases, digging into registration details, import docs, and transport paths. The buzz around the actor inspections has lit up the media, but officials say it’s all by the book—a routine part of the national push to protect government revenue and crack down on tax cheats.
This coordinated action, blending local raids, state agency teamwork, and probes into pricey imports from Bhutan, shows India’s firm stance against sophisticated luxury automobile tax evasion. No one, from showroom owners to big-shot importers, gets a free pass under the law.
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