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Customs Corruption in Spotlight: Wintrack Allegations Trigger Ministry Meeting, Inquiry Launched
Moneylife Digital Team 06 October 2025
Economy & Nation
“I attended the inquiry with the officer, with no expectations and a blank mind, thinking it would be a one-sided affair. After the first session, I realised the Indian government and the Union ministry of finance (MoF) are committed to resolving entrepreneurs' issues and providing a long-term solution. Not only Wintrack Inc’s grievances, but those from all others have been listened to, and the future looks promising with growth for all,” wrote Prawin Ganeshan, founder of Wintrack Inc, on X after appearing before a senior officer from the department of revenue (DoR). His statement followed days of controversy triggered by his company’s dramatic announcement that it would shut down its import and export operations in India, citing harassment and bribery demands by Chennai customs.
 
The MoF responded by calling an internal meeting and deputing a senior officer to conduct a factual enquiry. In a post on X, the ministry states that the government has taken cognisance of the matter and instructed the DoR to conduct a fair, transparent and evidence-based inquiry. The officer will hear all parties concerned, including officials, and examine relevant documents. The ministry emphasised that the issue is being dealt with in utmost seriousness and that appropriate action would follow in accordance with the law. It also reiterated the government’s stated commitment to enhancing ease of doing business, noting past reforms such as the taxpayer charter, faceless customs procedures and the establishment of appellate bodies for dispute resolution.
 
 
The controversy began when Wintrack Inc posted that it would cease business in India from 1st October, claiming that for 45 days Chennai customs officials had 'relentlessly harassed' the company. 
 
 
Wintrack founder Mr Ganeshan alleged that his company’s shipments were blocked unless bribes were paid, describing incidents since January in which customs officers allegedly demanded money or created hurdles over issues such as charging cables and compliance certificates. He further says that exposing bribery earlier this year led to retaliation that crippled the company’s operations. Customs authorities rejected the charges, calling them false and insisting that any delays were due to misclassification or non-compliance, but Mr Ganeshan refused to withdraw his allegations.
 
 
  
 
Chennai customs, in its official response, strongly rejected Mr Ganeshan’s bribery allegations, calling them false and part of a repeated pattern of unsubstantiated claims. The department said Wintrack’s shipment had been misclassified, with eight undeclared boxes of USB charging cables discovered, and lacked mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) certification under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. 
 
Officials argued that all queries and hearings were conducted in accordance with the law, bonding permission was granted to help avoid demurrage, and no bribe was ever sought. They further accused the importer of filing identical goods through a related entity despite pending compliance issues, and of attempting to intimidate officers by threats during an official meeting. Customs maintained that its actions were entirely lawful and aimed at enforcing environmental, safety, and consumer protection rules, dismissing Mr Ganeshan’s posts as a calculated attempt to pressure officials into releasing non-compliant cargo.
 
 
What began as a standoff between one company and a customs zone has since spiralled into a larger national debate. After Wintrack’s announcement and the ministry’s confirmation of an inquiry, importers, customs brokers and business owners across India began sharing their own experiences of harassment, bribes, and delays under the trending hashtag 'my customs story'. 
 
The allegations extended beyond commercial imports. One individual said he never received a gift book from abroad because customs officers demanded payment for its release, while another described being charged Rs80,000 for clearing his own household goods after returning to India. Several voices from the logistics and trading industry endorsed Wintrack’s charges as credible, calling corruption in customs 'organised' and deeply entrenched. Others praised Mr Ganeshan for sparking a conversation that they said had been avoided for years out of fear of retaliation.
 
Businessmen and individuals wrote about bribes ranging from a few thousand rupees to demands amounting to 10% to 50% of shipment values, describing how non-cash inducements like mobile phones or liquor bottles were sometimes requested instead of direct payments. Stories emerged not just from Chennai but from Rajkot, Delhi and other ports, with many claiming that bribes had become a 'normal business practice'” and that refusing to pay risked crippling losses from demurrage and shipment delays.
 
 
 
 
As more people shared their experiences online, MOF’s move to hold a formal inquiry and its call for a meeting with revenue and customs officials marked the first concrete step in addressing what many now describe as a systemic problem. Whether the inquiry leads to accountability or reforms remains to be seen, but Wintrack’s exit has clearly opened a wider debate on corruption in India’s trade infrastructure, one that the government can no longer ignore.
Comments
Meenal Mamdani
1 month ago
What has happened to the website ipaidabribe.com which exposed several such cases in Karnataka?

Obviously, only those who are not doing anything illegal will report on this website.

There should be one such website in every state so the complainer does not have to travel far to get justice in case officials note the complaint and call an inquiry.
Reply
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