The Central Board of Oblique Taxes and Customs (CBIC), on Saturday introduced {that a} vigilance investigation is being initiated on the bribery allegations in opposition to Chennai Customs by Wintrack Inc, a Chennai based mostly import firm.
CBIC additionally stated that it has posted the accused customs officers out of their jurisdiction.
The Central Board of Oblique Taxes and Customs (CBIC) stated it has obtained the factual enquiry report from the Division of Income (DoR), which was mandated to undertake a good, clear and fact-based enquiry into the allegations made by Wintrack Inc concerning alleged irregularities in Chennai Customs.
“The report additionally signifies the potential for dishonest and personal fraud by the importer’s personal brokers and intermediaries,” the CBIC stated in a publish on X.
Licence of the Customs Dealer Agent named within the report has been suspended beneath regulation 16 of Customs Brokers Licensing Rules, 2018 pending the ultimate end result of the vigilance investigation. Additionally, a police grievance has been lodged in opposition to the unauthorised intermediaries, it stated.
What was Wintrack Inc’s grievance?
Chennai-based Wintrack Inc, an import firm, on October 1 took to X to announce shutting down of its enterprise alleging harassment by Chennai customs officers and demand for bribes.
Wintrack Inc Founder Ganeshan additionally posted a video on X detailing the sequence of occasions since January 2025 that led to his resolution of closing down of his enterprise. He stated his shipments have been held up by Chennai customs and launched solely after the bribe requested for by customs officers was paid.
What CBIC stated?
The CBIC stated based mostly on the prima facie findings by the income division, an intensive vigilance investigation is being initiated, which is proposed to be accomplished in a timeframe of 4-6 weeks.
To make sure the investigation is credible, free and honest, CBIC has relieved the officers recognized within the report of their current duties with fast impact and posted them out of the jurisdiction.
Additional, CBIC is constituting a Process Pressure beneath Member (Customs) to take additional corrective operational measures. These embrace a complete evaluate of all pending circumstances to make sure constant, clear and legally appropriate software of laws, with explicit consideration to MSMEs and small-scale importers.
The duty power will be sure that there isn’t any scope for misuse of authority or retribution in opposition to complainants, with shut monitoring of such circumstances for honest and expeditious disposal as per legislation.
The duty power will look to implement full anonymity in customs faceless evaluation by masking further particulars and issuing acceptable directions to all officers and strictly implementing entry to customs places to solely authorised CHAs (Customized Home Brokers).
“These measures underscore the federal government’s dedication to making sure integrity in Customs administration, strengthening systemic processes, and facilitate seamless commerce and commerce,” the CBIC stated.
(This can be a creating story. Maintain checking for extra updates)
