- I Paid A Bribe
- 14 years ago
- 2938 views
Customs
- Customs, Excise and Service Tax
- Customs Check and Clearance
- Paid INR 2,800
I travelled from US to India back. i was in US for assignment of my company. While going to US company provided me a laptop, after 6 months or so when I was travelling back, I purchased one laptop for myself. Now I had two laptops one of the company provided and one was my personal. While coming back my manager told me that if you carry one work and one personal laptop then it shoudl be fine since you are carrying only one personal laptop. At the mumbai CSI airport they spotted two laptops of mine and asked me to come to side. Said that the 2 laptops are not allowed. I told them that one is company laptop and other is my own. I showed my deputation letter, company laptop papers and everything. they wouldnt agree. I raised my voice a bit they said you must keep your voice down "shor matt machaoo". I read the name of that person who was talking to me .... He was some "Sing" and was speaking in heavy bihari hindi accent like "hame pata hai company kya deti hai.." He said "chupchap say $100 de do aur chalate bano, nahi toh chalan phade Rs20000 ka.". Both the laptops were old but he considered its price as Rs 55000 each and said 30% duty lagega. When I didnt agree he said tumhara bahut time jayega, baithe raho, hamari toh yahan duty hai... I waited for soem time.. by now most of the flight passengers were gone... I got a bit scared and decided to bribe him.. So i said I cant pay $100 I can pay $40. He said pay $60 and go... ab kuch matt bolo... then he sent one hawaldar type person with me in the room near by (i think it was bathroom? dont remember). Hawaldaar's nameplate showed some name as "Bhosale or Gaekwaad". I tried to give him $40. He said in marathi "sahebani tar 60 sangitale na?" I smiled and gave him another $20 and passed through.... I felt that if I had a recoder with me would have been really good and decided to carry one with my self next time I travel to get them in trouble.