- Bribe Fighter
- 12 years ago
- 3167 views
I refused to pay a bribe
I am ********** **********, Director of Golden Gardens Processed Food (P) Ltd., an 100% Export oriented unit. We manufacture and export fruit juices. We bought plastic crates for handling fruits in our unit and billed it against 'C' form - producing which, we will be exempted from 2% CST.
On this particular day I planned my day ahead and it seemed to be a very busy schedule. My mistake was to include the government office work on a day like this. In order to get this form I visited the Commercial tax office in Rasipuram, Tamil Nadu which is around 30 km from my office. I produced them with all the documents necessary for issuing us the 'C' form. The Assistant commissioner, signed and approved all the documents and sent me to the other officer, whose name or position is unknown to me. He asked me to sit and produced the treasury challan and asked me to fill it up. The challan was for Rs. 2/- which has to be paid by us for issuing the C form. We have to pay the money to the commercial tax office, in turn their peon or assistant will pay it at the State ********** which was around 10km away from their office. Well, as i was filling this challan, this officer asked me to pay the amount in SBI directly. The reason he gave was, the peon and assistants in the office, (who were sitting outside the office and were involved in some petty gossip) would not listen to him (in other words, will not do their duty). I took it lightly and accepted to do the work, as it was not uncommon for government servants to give ridiculous excuses and burden you with their work. I paid the said amount in SBI and returned to the office hoping, they will issue the 'c' form, so I can look into the other works at my hand.
When I returned, I was sent to another officer (unfortunately I was unable to get his name or position too), who enters the records in the books and issues the form. I produced him with the documents attached with the paid challan copy. He called the peon (surprisingly he came suspending his chatter). This officer asked him to stamp the seal of CTO department on the 'C' form and issue it to me. When the reply came, I couldn't believe my ears. He said, someone has locked the room, were the seals and forms are present, and that someone will return only by 3.00 PM in the noon. The time at that moment was 12.15 PM, which was obviously not the lunch time for an government office. I wondered where the **********did that someone go. I told them that I have lot of work in another town that was around 50 km away from the office and I cant stay here much longer. I requested them to please issue the form as soon as possible. In reply the officer said plainly, without any concern, " you can go finish your work and come back to get the form". I don't know whether he even bothered to think about the distance of that town from his office or I had to make a round trip of nearly 100 km to just get the form from him on time. What was also running on my mind was the amount of diesel I have to fill in my car for that extra 50 km and what will be the tax money saved with the 'C' form and also what will happen to my schedule. I had to postpone some works to some time later and I decided to return back and somehow get this form. If we fail to get this form the company that supplied us with crates on tax exemption will demand us the 2% tax money.
So I finished all my work and returned back by 4.45 PM. I thanked God, the office was still open. I went directly to the officer's desk and he said everything was ready and I had to sign in some registers. While I was signing, almost in whisper, he asked me something, I asked him to pardon me and repeat the sentence, Next time he made the same strange shy behavior (Government officers of India have this typical character, that is not explained in any book of psychology). Then it dawned to me - right ho! he is asking me a bribe. Now I went close to him amused and asked him to repeat what he said. He asked me " have you paid the peon for stamping the seal on the 'c' form?" For a moment I couldn't answer anything, who will pay someone for just stamping a seal on a paper (better business than my own). I said "no". While I was signing the next register, from nowhere the peon appeared and leaned on the desk. The officer needlessly asked the same question to peon. How will he say "yes" when I had said "no". Anyway the peon said "no" and started murmuring something inaudible. I silently and patiently signed all the registers (the silence means your going to pay the bribe) and the officer gave the form in my hand. Now, I felt relieved. I stood up and said I am leaving. This was the officer's time to be speechless for 5 seconds. When I was about to leave, losing all his shyness, and showing a bit off aggressive trait (This character too is typical of officers when you refuse their demands) asked me bribe loudly, which could have been heard to the 2 or 3 desks nearby. I said "you made me do your work, and made me travel unnecessarily, I think in this case I am entitled to ask you money and I am not even demanding" The peon again murmured something. Now the officer threatened " Lets see how your gonna get a 'C' form from me again", I replied " Lets see how your gonna refuse us the formm next time" I left them murmuring something with each other after saying this. On the way back, I was thinking and even afraid how will this incident reflect upon our company. Surely, Government officers may be good at nothing but when it comes to avenging someone who refused to pay a bribe, they are Spartans. After an hour of thinking while driving I strangely felt happy. Then I found out why I was - I saved my dignity by not paying him the bribe - atleast.