New Delhi, Oct 12 (NationPress) The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has commenced an extensive vigilance inquiry into the claims made by Wintrack Inc. concerning alleged discrepancies within Chennai Customs.

In light of the initial findings, this investigation has been set in motion and is expected to be completed within a span of 4 to 6 weeks, according to a statement shared on X.

The CBIC has received a factual inquiry report from the Department of Revenue (DoR), tasked with conducting a fair, transparent, and evidence-based inquiry into the allegations.

“To guarantee that the investigation remains credible, unbiased, and just, the CBIC has relieved the officers mentioned in the report of their current duties immediately and reassigned them outside their jurisdiction,” it further elaborated.

The report suggests potential cheating and private fraud involving the importer’s own agents and intermediaries.

“The Customs Broker Agent cited in the report has had their license suspended under regulation 16 of the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018 pending the final results of the vigilance inquiry. Additionally, a police complaint has been filed against the unauthorized intermediaries,” stated CBIC.

Moreover, the CBIC is establishing a Task Force under the Member (Customs) to implement further corrective operational actions.

These actions encompass a thorough review of all outstanding cases to ensure a consistent, transparent, and legally sound application of regulations, particularly focusing on MSMEs and small-scale importers.

It will also guarantee that there is no opportunity for authority misuse or retaliation against complainants, with diligent monitoring of such cases for fair and prompt resolution as per law.

This initiative includes enforcing complete anonymity in faceless assessments by concealing additional details and issuing appropriate instructions to all officers; strictly regulating access to Customs locations to only authorized Custom House Agents (CHAs); and enhancing grievance redressal systems through parameterized monitoring and regular reviews with field formations.

These steps emphasize the government's commitment to maintaining integrity in Customs administration, reinforcing systemic processes, and facilitating smooth trade and commerce, according to the CBIC.