Prawin Ganeshan, founder of WinTrack, an importer of niche electronic gadgets, healthcare as well as lifestyle products, says he won’t back down in the face of what he calls persistent “harassment” by officials at the Chennai customs zone, the authority responsible for clearing imported goods.
“Since January, over 20-25 shipments of the same product have been cleared; Why then has this shipment alone been held?" he said during a conversation with CNN-News18.
Refuting the Chennai customs’ allegation on X that WinTrack has an established pattern of false accusations and post deletions, Prawin Ganeshan said he voluntarily removed a post in January after resolving an issue with the customs department -- as any “businessman with gratitude would do”.
He explained that while the department did not acknowledge any bribery demand, it accepted that there was a misdeclaration that led to a higher duty. He agreed to the charge to avoid further delays and keep his business going.
“In June, I had posted about harassment, and they’re still there. And now, I am not going to delete. There is no ‘pattern’ to this. The officials forget that from February to September, all items I have imported are the same. Previously, they had cleared all of them. But why are they holding this shipment?"
“They have proved that bribes are uncontrollable," he said.
WinTrack vs Customs
Ganeshan’s series of posts alleging harassment gained national traction and reignited discussions around the ease of doing business in India. Several importers with similar experiences have since taken to X, sharing accounts of their struggles -- including claims of having to pay bribes to get their shipments cleared.
Through a post on X, the Chennai customs categorically denied any instance of bribery or harassment, putting the blame on Ganeshan.
“This importer has an established pattern of making unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and bribery on this platform, only to delete such posts once factual rebuttals are provided by this department,” it said.
The finance ministry, in a post on X, said that the government has taken cognisance of the matter raised by Wintrack Inc and the Department of Revenue (DoR) has been asked to undertake a fair, transparent, and fact-based inquiry into the present issue.
"A senior officer from DoR has been deputed to conduct a detailed factual enquiry, hearing the parties concerned, officials, and thoroughly examining all relevant documentary evidence," the ministry said.
It further said that 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 ministry said that in recent years, the government has implemented a series of taxpayer-friendly initiatives, such as the adoption of the Taxpayer Charter, the introduction of faceless customs procedures, and the establishment of appellate bodies for dispute resolution, with the objective of enhancing transparency and promoting ease of doing business.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) also posted on X, clarifying that the issue pertains to misdeclaration and misclassification by the importer.
"All facts will be duly examined. Necessary action, as warranted under the law, will be taken," the CBIC had tweeted.
Wintrack Inc alleges harassment by Chennai Customs
Wintrack Inc on October 1 took to X to announce shutting down its business, alleging harassment by Chennai customs officials and demand for bribes. “This difficult decision comes after repeated and unjustified harassment by officials at Chennai Customs over the past 45 days,” it said.
The company pointed that when it exposed instances of bribery earlier this year, it faced “retaliatory actions” that affected its ability to conduct business.
On Thursday, Chennai-based Wintrack Inc founder Ganeshan posted a video on X detailing the sequence of events since January 2025 that led to his decision to close down his business.
He said his shipments were held up by Chennai customs and released only after the bribe asked for by customs officials was paid.
Ganeshan stands firm
Ganesh, during the interaction with CNN-News18, said that Chennai customs reached out to him by way of direct message on X, seeking his presence for an “inquiry” on Saturday.
“Some officers had reached out to me through some sources, hinting that they would affect my other businesses through raids. I have refused to delete any post. I stand by my words," he said.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
