• I Paid A Bribe
• 14 years ago
• 3002 views

Have to pay bribe to custom dept officers

• Customs, Excise and Service Tax
• Customs Check and Clearance
• Paid INR 16,000

This is the true incident which took place on 7-7-10. I am an IT professional and employed abroad. That time I was working in Thailand and have handsome salary. I got another good offer so resigned from my job and was returning to see my family after a long time. While coming back to India my family members asked me to bring some gift which will remain as memory. So I bought 2 TV sets Samsung 40'. Costing 50K THB some where 75K INR. On reaching New Delhi after claiming my baggage I went to custom declaration counter (Truly speaking I am pure Indian by heart and because my salary was high enough so I thought of paying the custom duty on my TV). On reaching the custome declaration counter I found a team of 7-8 officers sitting and gossiping and some were laughing at seeing me because I was carrying all my stuff back from Thailand including 2 TV set. One of the office in Clean White impressive shirt came to help me and said ok please come to this way. I was highly impressed by the way the addressed me. They asked me ok how much stuff do you have with you? I replied the 2 TV sets and one toy which an electronic helicopter which was also not in good condition because I was using it since last 6 months. I told them the value is 50K THB which stands near 75K INR. He told me that one of your TV is exempted and you have to pay custom on 1 piece.I was really happy that my country in last one year has changed and people are going good. I asked ok sir what's the amount do I have to pay? He said: Custom charges is 20000/- I dont know how did he calculated when I asked the details how cum this amount because I knew that in India nothing is clearly stated 1000's of sections and sub sections and so on and you will die reading those and even at last can not reach the final calculation. Then the officer showed me some percentage chart which was remotely pasted under his table a manual one. I don't know when our country will go automatized. I asked him ok please issue the receipt and charge from my Debit card because I was not carrying Indian currency. He said we don't have this facility of charging from card so you please bring cash. I told him that I had resigned from my previous job and which coming back the Air India charged me 30K as overload charge because I was bringing all my stuff back to India, so my cash is over. I requested him to please allow me to bring cash from ATM. He told me sorry sir the ATM is out of airport clearance are and you can not go there before you pay. I requested him that I will leave my stuff here and go alone to this he said ok I will follow you (because there was no other person on custom declaration counter and all other officers were enjoying chit chat). Then he gave me offer ok your actual amount is 18K INR you can pay me 18000/-. I was happy to this I asked is there some discounts you are providing he said yea because you seems to be a good person I will treat this case as my brother coming from other country. I said ok then issue me receipt amount he said there is no need of receipt. I asked then how will I clear the police post he said I will accompany you. And while talking he called a help from airport cleaning staff and asked me to give him Rs.100/- and he will take your stuff out with us and I will accompany you. I said, I would like to pay to govt. the amount which it requires. He laughed at me and just 10steps away we the exist where police was posted some of the police officers were also viewing this drama and had a full eye on me. The tried to stop me on the exit but with the signal of custom officer he let me go out. Now I reached the ATM machines one was from ICICI and another from AXIS bank and on both the machines the message was out of order. So I said boss I don't have cash in INR but have US dollar. He instantly replied ok would do no problem. I said but sorry I can not give you the amount in USD as I require the receipt. He said see ok I give you another deed just pay 16000/- INR and can go. I said I can not arrange such a big amount without going to ATM as my driver would hardly be carrying 2000-3000/- only he said ok you can ask some of your friend or relative to arrange for me. I again stressed see I need receipt and please do the needful I will call for the money. Then he said why are you making a scene here and clear this thing in mind that we are not going to issue any receipt or the best thing is I will call the police and ask them to see your custom receipt and they will land you in jail. In the mean time another person in civilian dress came to light and said to officer "your officer is calling you" on hearing this the officer again said see I am doing bad to me for you as my younger brother, to this I said ok then leave this amount as well because you said I am your younger brother. On this he laughed and said ok I am now going and will send the police. Then another person in civilian dress appeared on the scene and asked me not to create a scene here and warned me of dire consequence's. Because I had to go ahead on a journey of 8hours from Delhi and I was to reach my family I asked my friend to arrange for money in till next 30 minutes this officer was with me all the time and pressurizing me to pay. I am shameful for this incidence and that day I told my family member I can not pay bribes and please don't ask for any kind of gifts or any item from abroad. May be any one of us can get stuck to same situation so keep in mind that instead of landing in the grip of police better to pay bribe to the Custom officers else your life will be ruined. The police will charge 10times more and will put case of smuggling and lot more. So I encourage to pay bribe if you don't want to spoil your life and peace. One more thing during the entire discussion this custom officer told me his name as Ashok Mahajan but on his shirt was the name tag B S. I asked is this your name he said yes then I asked why did you told me your name is A M he said its you who had noticed the tag else no other person do such interrogations. Do you really want to live in India ok good pay bribe and live happy... Regards, V