Kochi: The alleged Bhutan luxury car smuggling scandal took a serious turn on Wednesday with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launching simultaneous raids at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including the homes of leading Malayalam actors Mammootty, his son Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Amit Chakkalakkal.

The searches were carried out at Mammootty’s Elamkulam residence near here, Dulquer’s houses in Kochi and Chennai, Prithviraj’s residence, and Amit Chakkalakkal’s home in Kadavanthra.

Raids also extended to the premises of automobile dealers in five districts.

The ED said the action was linked to violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

According to the agency, the operation stems from credible intelligence about a syndicate illegally importing

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