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NEW DELHI: Trading company Wintrack Inc has levelled serious allegations of corruption and harassment against customs officials in Chennai and announced that it is halting exports and imports from the country, prompting the revenue department to initiate a probe by a senior official.In an eight-minute video posted on X on Thursday, the company’s CEO, Prawin Ganeshan, who described himself as a first-generation entrepreneur sourcing goods from China, has enumerated a series of events starting in Jan, when he first raised a red flag over a bribery demand of Rs 8 lakh from customs officials for a $1,300 package. He alleged an official from Delhi faceless assessment unit had made the demand, but the issue was resolved after he raised it on X. The posts were deleted subsequently, he said.Then in May, when three of his consignments were held up, he paid a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to two units, though not to those working in the “shed”, he alleged. Despite paying the bribe his goods were released after three weeks, he added. Things deteriorated from June when officials in the “shed” refused to clear goods and demanded a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh, citing payments made to other departments. Since then, Ganeshan alleged, the officials had been raising issues and lodging complaints with seniors.He then floated a company in his wife’s name, and the first consignment was cleared. “When the second shipment came, the officer in the shed refused to examine the shipment and it is still pending,” Ganeshan said in the video and accused a deputy commissioner in the “shed” of threatening his company representatives. “I heard that they are planning revenge, planning to raid and affect my personal life,” he said.The video was posted a day after Chennai Customs, on its official X handle, described the earlier allegations as false. While taking note of the Chennai Customs’ response, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs stepped in, promising necessary action. The finance ministry said a detailed investigation by a senior revenue department official had been ordered.
