- I Paid A Bribe
- 12 years ago
- 1729 views
Hidden bribe - unsure of the amount (above amount is just a guess)
- Stamps and Registration
- Stamp Duty
- Paid INR 1,000
Last year my father did a gift deed to me of site in Mysore. Since we were short of time, we were recommended to approach a para-legal office next to the sub-registrar's office, so the para-legal can do all the paper work. The amount we agreed to pay the para-legal for their fees and stamp paper was Rs. 5000. Initially it did not bother me, and I paid all amount upfront. Para-legal office not only drafted my papers, but also took my papers around all the tables in the subregistrar's office. Only thing I had to do was to sign the documents in front of the sub registrar, which was very convenient for me and I thought the money I paid for the para-legal was worth for the service they provided me. Only when I was waiting at the para-legal's office to receive a copy of my katha papers that a young boy came to collect money for the day. When I curiously asked the para-legal guy what it was all about, I was told that all para-legal offices (mushroomed) around subregistrar's had to pay a certain amount (bribe) based on the number of clients they each para-legal office take. So a part of the "fees" they charged me actually goes as a bribe to the subregistrar's office. The unsuspecting young boy (looked like a high school kid) collects the daily business from all para-legal offices and in someway delivers it to someone in the subregistrar's office. So unknowingly I was a victim of bribery. I just thought I had paid a para-legal fees, not knowing a portion of it included a bribe. Nowhere in the process I heard anybody asking or hinting for bribe. Although I'm not sure what percent goes towards bribe. It was so well organized, it fooled me. I should have reaslized that it was too good to be true, sort of frustrating. But cautions to be more careful next time.