- Bribe Fighter
- 10 years ago
- 2318 views
After completing the police clearance requirements at my local police…
After completing the police clearance requirements at my local police station in Mumbai, I was told to take the papers to the CID office near St. Xaviers College - South Mumbai and I would need to followup with them later.
I took the papers for submission, tonnes of us jostling in the heat, running from here to there, no clear indications of where police clearance for foreign travel was and where the local police clearance was. If you weren't among the first few people to hand in your papers before the counter shut, you could just show up the next day, try and be the first and hope not to be turned for some reason or another.
Some days later I got a phone call (my details were mentioned in the form) from a police woman saying my application had been received and that I would need to speak to her boss and it would be done.
I did. And among the many things he had to say, he also said this, 'Madam, I you can even come tomorrow and collect your papers and we can talk'.'
'All my papers and supporting documents are in place, I don't know what else is needed' I replied. Even as I said this, I smelled a big, fat, dirty rat.
A few days later, I made my way to the CID with my father. Same jostling, bustling cluelessness of everyone. I find the Inspectors seat, but he is not there. i call him and tell him im here. He says he is out on duty somewhere and will be back soon.
i go for lunch, kill time and return. Still not there. i call him. He says he's coming. He even calls me back to say that he's has arrived.
i make my way to his office, the female officer is there too.
He hands over the signed certificate to me, and says, 'i wish you all the best'.
'Thank you very much Sir' i reply.
'Sir, vichaara, vichaara' says the female officer with urgency... (Sir, ask her, ask her).
This is my cue, i get up, with my head bowed down, unseeing and leave. No bribe paid.
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i would like to appeal to the Police Department of Mumbai and the Government of Maharashtra to make the application process for any kind of certificate, clearer and transparent as the current process is frustrating and tiresome. And it leaves a terrible impression of the police on people, even when we know that every single person in the system is NOT corrupt.
Help restore our faith in the people who protect us.