• I Paid A Bribe
  • 7 years ago
  • 2169 views

Paid a Bribe to get GPA registered

Reported on January 3, 2017 from Bangalore , Karnataka  ι Report #144099

I had just a week to move out of India for work purposes, one of the pending tasks towards my property registration was left over, my close friend who is a lawyer advised that I execute a GPA in the name of my mother so I can leave peacefully.

While I got the documentation done from the lawyer , I went for registering the GPA at Sub registrar's office Byatarayanapura on 28th Dec 2016, 11 AM. As usual, nobody bothered to ask why I was present in office, speaking to a passerby I understood that I should reach out to the Sub registrar to get the FEES estimated and handover the documents to one of the clerk.

As advised, I could get the FEES scribbled on the document using a pencil ( which only the clerk could interpret ) from the Sub registrar, moved further to get the process initiated. The clerk called for witnesses along with my mother got the signature and the thumb impression for records.

While I asked for the papers ( around 11.40 AM that day ) she insisted I pay the FEES ( which meant I pay additional amount to get the papers released from her desk ) one of the passer by asked me to pay 200 Rs to get rid of the delay, placed 200 Rs on her desk and she released the document for stamping.

This document finally reached Sub Registrar's desk ( around 12 PM ), left unnoticed by the Sub Registrar for nearly 30 minutes, while I asked the gentleman by who was seen clearing the desk every 5 minutes he spoke about the reality ( could be a close associate of Sub Registrar, did not look like a peon by his attitude )

He negotiated the process to get completed quickly if I pay 2000 Rs, while I was not prepared with this money. I tried to educate him that this is Illegal which came to attention of few more people in the office. This made him bit sensitive, directed me to meet him at a small passage at ground floor. He them negotiated for 800 Rupees.

While I got my work done by paying the bribe I am feeling ashamed I had to do this against my conscience. All this while I hear PM is fighting hard to end corruption and make the process transparent. Not sure if Demonetization has impacted the officers like the Sub Registrar, he would have means to get the bribe converted to white and not get caught.

What is your reaction after reading this report?