Wintrack ceases import-export operations in India alleging bribery demands, Chennai Customs denies charge

'Shipment was released after Rs 2.10 lakh bribe, have proof': Wintrack founder counters Chennai Customs

Tamil Nadu-based Wintrack Inc. said it has ceased import-export activities in India, effective October 1, 2025, alleging harassment by Chennai Customs officials. The latter, however, has denied the allegations.

According to the company’s website, Wintrack enables buyers to effortlessly shop from any China and Thailand e-commerce website and enjoy seamless doorstep delivery anywhere in India.

In a statement on X, the company said: “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."

SIIB: ASHISH NEHRA VITAL
EO: BANDI NARIAPPA
AO: GYANENDRA PANDEY

These 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

Responding to the allegation, Chennai Customs said the importer had an established pattern of false allegations and corruption charges.

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 centres around eight undeclared boxes of USB cables built-in rechargeable batteries, which require a certificate from the Central Pollution Control Board.

“Despite repeated queries on 29.08.2025, during personal hearing on 08.09.2025, and again on 29.09.2025, 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," the central authority said in the tweet.

Since the Customs department is in the news, I thought I'd tell a Customs story.

A friend of mine got a book from abroad, sent to him by the author. It was addressed to him as Mr. Surname (since the actual name isn't relevant to this story).

The customs sought an ID from him…

— Ashwin Mahesh (@ashwinmahesh) October 2, 2025

The controversy snowballed as Prawin Ganeshan, founder of Wintrack Inc, also levelled allegations of bribery, naming specific officials from the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB) and claiming his wife’s company was forced to pay over Rs 2.1 lakh in bribes for a shipment worth $6,993. He alleged officers even offered a 10 per cent “discount" during negotiations.

The war of words between the firm and the customs department also opened a Pandora’s box on social media, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling it “truly dismaying".

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

Chairman of Aarin Capital and former CFO of Infosys Mohandas Pai tagged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the thread, saying: “You have failed to stamp out systemic corruption in our ports Please act."