New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday raided 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including premises linked to actors Dulquer Salmaan, Prithiviraj Sukumaran and Amit Chakkalackal, in connection with its probe linked to a case of alleged smuggling of luxury vehicles from Bhutan to India, officials said. The financial crimes probe agency has launched a foreign exchange management act (FEMA) violation probe in connection with the customs department's 'Operation Numkhor', in which the latter recovered 36 luxury cars from affluent individuals in September. Besides the actors, the ED searches also covered certain vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam (all in Kerala) and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). "The action is being taken under the FEMA in a recent case unearthed by the Customs Preventive department related to alleged smuggling of luxury vehicles and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings," an officer said, requesting anonymity. The officer said the searches are based on inputs about a syndicate engaged in illegal import and registration of high-end cars such as Land Cruiser, Defender, and Maserati through the India-Bhutan and India-Nepal routes. "Preliminary findings point to a Coimbatore-based network that used forged documents and fraudulent RTO registrations in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and some other states," the officer added. Salmaan had approached the Kerala high court for release of his vehicle (a Defender), saying it was seized in a hasty and arbitrary fashion....