Wintrack shuts down India operations, alleges harassment by Chennai Customs; officials deny charges

Tamil Nadu-based Wintrack Inc. has announced it is ceasing all import-export activities in India from October 1, 2025, citing “relentless harassment” by Chennai Customs officials. The company, which facilitated cross-border shopping from China and Thailand for Indian buyers, claimed its business was crippled after exposing instances of bribery earlier this year.

In a statement posted on X, Wintrack said: “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.”

Founder Prawin Ganeshan accused officials of blocking shipments over technicalities, including charging cables for massagers being declared separately. He alleged that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Legal Metrology (LMPC) compliances were suddenly enforced to delay clearances and rack up demurrages. Ganeshan also named senior officials, accusing them of “open threats” and demanding bribes.

Chennai Customs, however, strongly refuted the charges. In a detailed statement, it said the company had “misdeclared and misclassified goods”, including undeclared USB charging cables, and failed to provide mandatory EPR certification under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. Officials said no bribes were ever demanded and all actions were “legally mandated, procedurally proper, and based on documented violations.”

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) also intervened, stating the matter was under examination and “necessary action, as warranted under the law, will be taken.”

The dispute has drawn sharp reactions online.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the episode “truly dismaying,” saying corruption remained rampant in the system. Former Infosys CFO and investor Mohandas Pai tagged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the government of failing to curb “tax terrorism” at ports.

Wintrack, which now identifies itself on social media as a company that “exposed bribery @ Chennai Customs, faced revenge, lost business,” said the decision to quit India was not about profit but survival.