The Finance Ministry on Thursday initiated a formal enquiry into serious corruption allegations leveled by Chennai-based import-export firm Wintrack Inc against customs officials, ordering a senior Department of Revenue officer to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
The Department of Revenue has been directed to undertake a fair, transparent, and fact-based inquiry into the allegations raised by Wintrack Inc., according to an official statement. A senior officer has been assigned to conduct detailed factual enquiry, including hearing all parties concerned and officials, while thoroughly examining relevant documentary evidence.
"The matter is being dealt with utmost seriousness, and the Government is committed to taking appropriate and expeditious action in accordance with the law," the Finance Ministry stated, reiterating its commitment to enhancing ease of doing business.
The Government has taken cognizance of the matter raised by M/s Wintrack Inc (Chennai). (@wintrackinc).The Department of Revenue (DoR) @FinMinIndia has been asked to undertake a fair, transparent, and fact-based inquiry into the present issue.
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A Senior Officer from DoR has…
— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) October 2, 2025
What are Wintrack Inc's allegations?
The enquiry comes after Wintrack Inc announced it was ceasing all import-export activities in India, effective October 1, 2025, citing harassment by Chennai Customs officials. The Tamil Nadu-based company, which enables buyers to shop from China and Thailand e-commerce websites with doorstep delivery in India, claimed officials retaliated after the firm exposed alleged bribery practices twice this year.
Sequence of Events Leading to Our ClosureI will stay alive,i will survive,never give up 🙏🏻
On this Gandhi Jayanthi,Lets all join together to reduce,abolish corrupt hands
I have lost my health,got stress,still little left#wintrackinc #prawinganeshan #GandhiJayanthi… pic.twitter.com/NXJiMwEHLS
— WINTRACK INC (@wintrackinc) October 2, 2025
Company founder Prawin Ganeshan made specific allegations against officials from the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch, claiming his wife's company was forced to pay over Rs 2.1 lakh in bribes for a shipment valued at $6,993. He alleged that officers offered a 10 percent "discount" during negotiations and named specific officers including SIIB Ashish Nehra Vital, EO Bandi Nariappa, and AO Gyanendra Pandey. Ganeshan also claimed a faceless assessment officer in Mumbai received Rs 50,000.
SIIB: ASHISH NEHRA VITAL
EO: BANDI NARIAPPA
AO: GYANENDRA PANDEYThese officers recieved bribe to clear my Wife's company shipment last week
Faceless Assessment Officer at Mumbai Recieved 50,000
When we negotiated the bribe through our staff in person with SiiB officers & CHA… https://t.co/qUyTh4FJx4 pic.twitter.com/KzyMhbMuQB
— Prawin Ganeshan (@PrawinGaneshan) October 1, 2025
However, Chennai Customs has categorically denied these allegations, stating the importer has an established pattern of making unsubstantiated corruption charges and false allegations.
The dispute centers on eight undeclared boxes of USB cables with built-in rechargeable batteries, which require certification from the Central Pollution Control Board. Chennai Customs stated that despite repeated queries on August 29, 2025, during personal hearing on September 8, 2025, and again on September 29, 2025, no EPR certificate was provided.
"Instead, the importer submitted wrong documentation (e-waste undertaking) and made legally untenable claims of MSME exemption, finished product exemption, and low battery capacity exemption—none of which exist under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022," Chennai Customs said in its official response.
In response to serious and false allegations made by @PrawinGaneshan regarding Bill of Entry No. 3837029 dated 12.08.2025, we categorically place the following facts on record. This importer has an established pattern of making unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and…— Chennai Customs (@ChennaiCustoms) October 1, 2025
The controversy has sparked widespread debate on social media, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling the situation "truly dismaying." He stated that corruption remains rampant across the system and most companies simply comply as part of the "price of doing business."
This is truly dismaying. Corruption remains rampant across the system and most companies simply comply as part of the “price of doing business”. It doesn’t have to be this way. Indeed it must not be like this if the country is to grow and prosper. https://t.co/GJQQZV7NaL— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 2, 2025
Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital and former CFO of Infosys, tagged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying: "You have failed to stamp out systemic corruption in our ports Please act."
PM @narendramodi Sir please see the pain of our entrepreneurs We need our FM @nsitharaman to intervene and stop this corruption, do away with rules which give power and promote corruption. @FinMinIndia has to reform urgently. @PMOIndia @sanjeevsanyal We need to change processes… https://t.co/DPZn5NZZxj— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) October 2, 2025
The Finance Ministry emphasized that in recent years, the government has implemented numerous taxpayer-friendly initiatives including adoption of the Taxpayer Charter, introduction of faceless customs procedures, and establishment of appellate bodies for dispute resolution, all aimed at enhancing transparency and promoting ease of doing business.
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