The customs department has seized an imported car Toyota Lexus belonging to actor Saif Ali Khan, who is facing duty evasion charges.

The car was seized by the customs yesterday, sources said here today.

In response to summons, the actor had on January 10 appeared before customs to answer the charges of duty evasion.

He had also given a statement to the special investigation and Intelligence wing of customs, officials said.

According to Customs officials, the car was allegedly imported under the Transfer of Residence (TR) rules by a passenger, Kolangara Mamunhi Mohammed, who flew into Mumbai from Dubai in January 2004. The vehicle was endorsed on his passport for import under TR.

The actor had apparently purchased the car from Mohammed allegedly violating the TR rules, the officials said.

Under the TR rules, only NRIs who have stayed abroad for at least two years and owned the vehicle for six months are eligible to bring the car to India on their relocation to the country.

The owners of such cars are also banned from selling the vehicle for two years, the customs sources said.

Earlier, actor Sanjay Dutt had to pay a fine of Rs 40 lakh for his Porche as he was found to have evaded duty by purchasing the car, the sources added.