Wintrack Halts India Operations, Accuses Chennai Customs Of Harassment & Corruption

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.

In a statement posted on X, the company said, “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. 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.”

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.

After exposing their bribery practices twice this year, they retaliated, effectively crippling our operations and… pic.twitter.com/PmGib8srmM

— WINTRACK INC (@wintrackinc) October 1, 2025

Allegations by Wintrack

Wintrack’s 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.

Ganeshan further alleged that customs officers even offered a “discount” on the bribe, and that the retaliation extended to delaying and blocking shipments using compliance technicalities.

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.

Chennai Customs Responds

In a rebuttal, Chennai Customs denied all bribery allegations, calling them “serious 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 — all deficiencies in compliance, not corruption.

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.

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.

Broader Reactions & Political Heat

The controversy quickly drew reactions from public figures. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the situation “truly dismaying”, asserting that corruption remains pervasive and that many businesses simply pay up as a “cost of doing business”.

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’s ports.

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.

“Regarding 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.