{"id":16999,"date":"2025-10-02T11:37:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T11:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/02\/wintrack-halts-india-operations-accuses-chennai-customs-of-harassment-corruption-business-news\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T11:37:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T11:37:20","slug":"wintrack-halts-india-operations-accuses-chennai-customs-of-harassment-corruption-business-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/02\/wintrack-halts-india-operations-accuses-chennai-customs-of-harassment-corruption-business-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Wintrack Halts India Operations, Accuses Chennai Customs Of Harassment & Corruption | Business News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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‘From October 1, 2025, our company will cease import\/export activities in India. For the past 45 days, Chennai Customs officials have relentlessly harassed us,’ says Wintrack.<\/h2>\n
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The CBIC says the issue pertains to misdeclaration and misclassification by the importer.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

Chennai-based import\/export firm Wintrack Inc has said it will cease all import and export operations in India effective October 1, citing sustained harassment by customs officials and retaliatory actions after exposing alleged bribery demands.<\/p>\n

In a statement posted on X, the company said, \u201cFrom October 1, 2025, our company will cease import\/export activities in India. For the past 45 days, Chennai Customs officials have relentlessly harassed us. After exposing their bribery practices twice this year, they retaliated, effectively crippling our operations and destroying our business in India. We deeply thank everyone who has supported us during these difficult times.”<\/p>\n

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From October 1, 2025, our company will cease import\/export activities in India.For the past 45 days, Chennai Customs officials have relentlessly harassed us.<\/p>\n

After exposing their bribery practices twice this year, they retaliated, effectively crippling our operations and\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/PmGib8srmM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 WINTRACK INC (@wintrackinc) October 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Allegations by Wintrack<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wintrack\u2019s founder, Prawin Ganeshan, claimed that the harassment intensified after the company publicly called out customs officers for demanding bribes. The firm named specific officials they allege were involved in the extortion, claiming that a shipment valued at roughly $6,993 was cleared only after a bribe of Rs 2.10 lakh was paid.<\/p>\n

Ganeshan further alleged that customs officers even offered a \u201cdiscount” on the bribe, and that the retaliation extended to delaying and blocking shipments using compliance technicalities.<\/p>\n

He also claimed that new compliance demands (EPR certification, battery rules, legal metrology packaging standards) were weaponised selectively against Wintrack, though they had not been enforced in prior shipments.<\/p>\n

Chennai Customs Responds<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a rebuttal, Chennai Customs denied all bribery allegations, calling them \u201cserious and false”. The department said that the dispute stemmed from misclassification of goods, undeclared USB charging cables, and failure to furnish mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certification under battery waste rules \u2014 all deficiencies in compliance, not corruption.<\/p>\n

Customs also stated that due process was followed, hearings held, bonds accepted to mitigate demurrage, and that there was no demand for bribes. The department further claimed Wintrack had a history of making unsubstantiated corruption accusations which were later deleted after being disproved.<\/p>\n

Specifically, customs officials said that goods initially declared under CTH 90191010 were correctively reclassified under CTH 90191020, and eight boxes of USB cables built-in with batteries were found undeclared. They contended that EPR registration was mandatory for products with rechargeable batteries, which Wintrack failed to produce despite repeated requests.<\/p>\n

Broader Reactions & Political Heat<\/strong><\/p>\n

The controversy quickly drew reactions from public figures. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the situation \u201ctruly dismaying”, asserting that corruption remains pervasive and that many businesses simply pay up as a \u201ccost of doing business”.<\/p>\n

Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai also weighed in, publicly tagging the Finance Minister and Prime Minister, urging action to curb systemic corruption in the country\u2019s ports.<\/p>\n

On the regulatory front, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) cautioned that the issue is treated as one of non-compliance (misdeclaration, misclassification) and that all facts will be examined.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegarding the allegations of corruption against Chennai Customs raised by Prawin Ganeshan on Twitter, it is clarified that the issue pertains to misdeclaration and misclassification by the importer. Chennai Customs has already responded on this aspect. Subsequently, the importer has shared certain names and screenshots on Twitter. The matter has been noted, and all facts will be duly examined. Necessary action, as warranted under the law, will be taken,” the CBIC said in a post on X.<\/p>\n

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First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n
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October 02, 2025, 16:50 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

News<\/a> business<\/a> Wintrack Halts India Operations, Accuses Chennai Customs Of Harassment & Corruption<\/span><\/div>\n
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