Three days after the Commissioner of Customs (Preventive) seized his Land Rover Defender as part of Operation Numkhor, actor Dulquer Salmaan filed a writ petition in the High Court praying for the release of his vehicle. The Customs seized the car, noting that the goods were smuggled into India without payment of customs duty, and this is a violation of the provisions of the Customs Act; thus, the goods were liable to be confiscated, according to the seizure memo issued by the Customs Inspector on September 23. 

In his petition, Dulquer said that the officials refused to look into the available documents and the seizure was done in a hasty and arbitrary fashion. He said that the proceedings take time, and it would necessarily damage the vehicle since it is exposed to the weather. The court then also sought the response of the Customs department over Dulquer's petition.

Dulquer purchased the vehicle from Aarpee Promoters Private Limited, which had purchased it from one Habeed Mohammed. The purchase was effected through an acquaintance named Vishnu, the petition stated and that the entire sale transaction was remitted through the bank. According to Dulquer, he was made to understand that the transferor of the vehicle was in valid possession of the vehicle and it was duly registered with the Motor Vehicle department. 

He was under the impression that the invoice and the customs documents were valid and sufficiently disclosed a valid import. There is no mechanism in place for any verification by an individual effecting the purchase of a vehicle as regards all the previous owners since 2004, he said in the petition. 

Dulquer said that he had purchased the vehicle as a collector’s piece, having a fancy for vehicles and had spent considerable time and effort to see the vehicle being maintained and kept in good condition and motorable. He has requested that both the ownership and possession of the vehicle remain with him, and it will be produced at all relevant times and will be made available before the authorities for all legal purposes.

The 2004 model Land Rover Defender was shipped by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the ICRC Regional Delegation, New Delhi/consignee in 2004. The vehicle was cleared by a bill of entry for home consumption filed by the consignee. Dulquer has produced copies of the invoice and the bill of entry along with the other documents.

Customs confiscated a total of 38 vehicles over a two-day operation across Kerala. The fleet included vehicles belonging to businessmen, influencers, and actor Amith Chakkalakkal.