- I Paid A Bribe
- 14 years ago
- 1205 views
Idenu Hosdaagi helolla Maamuli **********
- Police
- Police Verification for Passport
- Paid INR 200
I had applied for passport reissue last month and I got a call for police verification on 21st Aug from Hulimavu police station. After an hour later, I promptly reached the station @ 11:30 a.m. I asked for Mr *******' from whom I had received SMS for verification and I was shown the place where Mr *******' was busy writing an application being dictated by his supervisor.
Mr *******' asked me to wait for a while till he completed his application. After 20 mins or so, Mr *******' took me inside a room adjacent to his working place.
He asked me few questions related to my work, place of birth etc. Once he came to know that I am from karnataka, he insisted to give a declaration in kannada mentioning that I have not indulged in any criminal activities in the past.
It took me some time to write the declaration as I had not written in kannada for over a decade and half. In the mean time he probed a bit more including my caste. I asked whether this information was mandatory for which he told that it was a casual question from his side.
After I finished the declaration, Mr *******' told me that the police verification was complete and a report would be sent shortly. When I was about to leave, Mr *******' stated as follows in kannada "Idenu Hosdaagi helolla, Passport verification report ge tondre aagbaardu andre maamuli 200 kodbekaagatte. Idella nimge gottirode alwa" --- Translation in English “This is nothing new; if passport verification report has to go through smoothly then as you know the normal Rs 200 has to be paid"
I was shocked to hear such a frank and open demand, even though I had faced similar demands indirectly made earlier for khata registration/certificate which I had rejected.
In this case, I was also told that verification may not be smooth with out the bribe.
Considering that I needed passport at the earliest, my hands were totally tied. I was pushed to a corner and I had no choice but to oblige for the demand.