The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has received the factual enquiry report from the Department of Revenue (DoR), which was tasked with conducting a fair, transparent, and fact-based investigation into the allegations made by M/s Wintrack Inc. regarding irregularities in Chennai Customs.
Based on the prima facie findings, CBIC has initiated a thorough vigilance investigation, which is proposed to be completed within 4–6 weeks. In a strong administrative move to ensure the credibility and independence of the probe, the officers identified in the DoR report have been relieved of their present responsibilities and transferred out of the jurisdiction with immediate effect.
The report has also highlighted the possibility of cheating and private fraud by the importer’s own agents and intermediaries. Acting swiftly, CBIC has suspended the licence of the Customs Broker Agent named in the report under Regulation 16 of the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018, pending the outcome of the investigation. Additionally, a police complaint has been lodged against the unauthorised intermediaries involved.
To strengthen systemic integrity and ensure transparency, CBIC is also constituting a high-level Task Force under the Member (Customs). The Task Force will undertake a series of corrective and preventive operational measures, including:
- A comprehensive review of all pending cases to ensure consistent, transparent, and legally sound application of customs regulations, especially in matters involving MSMEs and small-scale importers.
- Ensuring protection against misuse of authority or retaliation towards complainants, with close monitoring of such cases for fair and timely resolution.
- Implementing complete anonymity in faceless assessments by masking sensitive details and issuing clear instructions to officers.
- Restricting access to customs locations strictly to authorised Customs House Agents (CHAs).
- Enhancing grievance redressal mechanisms through parameterised monitoring and regular review by field formations.
- Public disclosure of actions taken and progress updates through official customs portals.
These decisive measures, CBIC stated, underscore the Government’s unwavering commitment to integrity, accountability, and transparency in Customs administration. The initiative also aims to strengthen systemic checks, boost stakeholder confidence, and facilitate seamless trade and commerce across India.
