Overview

• The ED identified Shine Motors partners Sathik Basha and Imran Khan as key operatives who, in statements recorded under FEMA, admitted sourcing about 16 vehicles from Bhutan via intermediary Sha Kinley, a former Army personnel.
• Investigators say vehicles were driven to Jaigaon on the India–Bhutan border, moved on car carriers through Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Chennai to Coimbatore without customs clearance, and no import duty was paid.
• The cars were allegedly dismantled and sold as spare parts across multiple states using online marketplaces, with payments routed in cash or to personal accounts, and without Import‑Export Codes or statutory invoices.
• Searches at 17 locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on October 8 included premises linked to actors Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan and Amit Chakkalackal, yielding forged NOCs, WhatsApp chats, bank details, buyer lists, electronic devices and dismantled parts.
• The agency cites prima facie violations of FEMA Sections 3, 4 and 8 and says inter‑agency coordination continues, following earlier Customs raids that seized dozens of luxury vehicles and included allegations that some cars ferried gold and narcotics.