• I Paid A Bribe
• 14 years ago
• 2053 views

********** Mahal - Police - Extortion targetting NRI/PIO's

• Police
• Activities on Beat
• Paid INR 2,000

I am a US based second generation NRI and was on visit with my US wife to the ********** Mahal where I was forced to pay a bribe to enter.

I bought an entrance ticket with my Indian ID , my wife bought a non-Indian entrance ticket.

During the security check at the entrance of the ********** Mahal the police man noticed my US accent (and probably glasses) and asked to inspect my wallet for security reasons. He opened it and noticed, besides my money, my US (university) ID cards and immediately pulled me to the side of the queue.

He said in a menacing yet low voice that I was American (despite me showing an Indian ID with Indian nationality on it) but had an Indian entrance ticket and was trying to mislead the Indian police force.

He gave me two choices: my wife - who was in the tourist queue - and I could spend the week at the police station prison until appearing before a magistrate, or pay him on the spot 2000 rupees (with possibility to pay in US dollars...) to be let in. His police colleague stood menacingly by him to shield the public from seeing what was happening.

Given the intimidation of the menacing policemen and concern about my wife's well-being, I conceded in paying them.

I deeply regret I was put in such a situation. It is sufficiently embarrassing and short-sighted that the Indian government discriminates on tourist entrance prices (every tourist and PIOI spoke to on the issue felt taken advantage of and abused by this policy), but that such policemen parasite further on this discriminatory policy and extend it to fill their own corrupt and abusive pockets to the detriment of India's image .

I have since met others who have faced similar situations.

My conscience is clear - their pockets are full - but, if nothing else, I hope they will have to pay back for their crimes in their next lives.

Long live India - down with corruption!