Hours after the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) announced a vigilance inquiry into bribery allegations at Chennai Customs, Wintrack Inc. founder Prawin Ganeshan publicly endorsed the move and said the report’s findings were “fully accurate”.
“I reiterate that the government is serious about implementing reforms in the Customs Department. This applies not only to @wintrackinc but also to entrepreneurs nationwide, enabling transparent, corruption-free import/export processes in the future,” Ganeshan posted on X.
However, he strongly reacted to one part of the report flagging the “possibility of cheating and private fraud” by the importer’s own representatives. Ganeshan claimed that certain Customs House Agents (CHAs), their staff, and impersonators had collected money under the pretext of clearing shipments, but kept the difference between what they received from importers and what was actually paid to officials.
“These individuals pocketed the difference… I will lodge a criminal complaint against these private persons for fraud and cheating in the name of Customs and their officials,” he said.
CBIC Confirms Irregularities, Takes Action
On Saturday, CBIC confirmed it had received a factual enquiry report from the Department of Revenue (DoR), which was tasked with conducting a “fair, transparent and fact-based” investigation into Wintrack’s allegations of corruption at Chennai Customs.
Key actions announced by CBIC include:
-
Suspension of the Customs Broker Agent licence named in the report under Regulation 16 of the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018.
-
Police complaint filed against unauthorised intermediaries.
-
Vigilance investigation to be completed within 4–6 weeks.
-
Immediate transfer of officials identified in the report out of their current jurisdiction to ensure credibility.
Task Force to Implement Reforms
CBIC will also set up a task force under the Member (Customs) to implement systemic corrective measures. The task force will:
-
Review all pending cases for consistency, transparency, and legal compliance.
-
Focus on the protection of MSMEs and small-scale importers.
-
Prevent misuse of authority or retaliation against complainants.
-
Monitor sensitive cases for fair and speedy disposal.
-
Enforce complete anonymity in faceless assessments.
-
Mask additional data to avoid identification of officers or importers.
-
Restrict access to customs premises to only authorised CHAs.
“These measures underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring integrity in Customs administration, strengthening systemic processes, and facilitating seamless trade and commerce,” the CBIC stated.
Wintrack’s Allegations Spark Wider Reform Push
Wintrack Inc., a Chennai-based logistics technology firm, announced on October 1 that it would shut down operations, alleging sustained harassment and demands for bribes by Customs officials. Ganeshan released a video detailing incidents dating back to January 2025 that he said forced the company’s closure.
His public allegations gained widespread attention and prompted the government to initiate the high-level enquiry.
With the CBIC now moving swiftly on both internal vigilance and external fraud, stakeholders across the trade ecosystem say the outcome of this case could mark a turning point in customs transparency and accountability.
