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

Is India so shining that people have only Black label??

• Customs, Excise and Service Tax
• Customs Check and Clearance
• Paid INR 1,500

I landed in Mumbai airport, early morning in the Air Arabia Flight from Sharjah, on 9th October. I was on a single day visit to the city, to attend my unlce's 60th Birthday celebrations, which the whole family was attending. I am basically from Kerala, and the whole family had dropped down to Mumbai, so thought of meeting everyone in one go!!

As such, I was carrying a 32" LCD TV as gift to my sister, which, I had ascertained before travel itself, that it does not attract any customs duty. (I purchased it for Dhs.1,200, which converts to apporx. Rs. 15,000). I had in my hand baggage, a digital camera and a handycam, which were almost 3 years old, which I was carrying for covering the occasion. My uncle had asked me to carry two bottles of Black Label Whisky, to be used for the party.

At the customs, I said I dont have anything specific to declare, as I am not carrying anything beyond the limit. The officer over there, took me aside, saying he wants to check. Without even opening the bag, he started a friendly chat, asking me details of my job, about the purpose of visit...etc.. He started like, " How come everyone is now a days carrying only Black Label whiskies!! no body comes with even Red Label. Has the Indians become so rich!.... blah blaah blaaah.....".. I told him politely, that I don't drink, and I am carrying it only becoz someone has asked me for that, and hence, I dont know about the preferences of the new Indian public!

I have been working in Dubai since 2006, and had my passport renewed in Dubai in May 2010, as the pages had got over. My old UAE visa was in the old passport. In July 2011, I changed my job, and the new UAE Visa was stamped in the new passport. So, as such, I did not remember to carry my old passport along with the new one. The officer found that out, and started telling like, there is no proof that you are an NRI, as the visa is stamped only in July, and its not 6 months from there. I tried arguing my case, telling that I had got the passport issued in Dubai in May, which does imply that I have been living here even before that. And there were many stamps in the passport, which proves that I was travelling out from UAE to Germany, on official visits from here. But he was in no mood to listen..

Then he started being more aggressive, telling that forget the fact that I have not declared in customs about the TV, camera, handicam, etc. since am not an NRI and not entitled to carry them, the more severe penalty would be that I am not carrying my old passport, which is a criminal offence. and began giving lectures after lectures!!

Finally I asked him, so what is the solution? hmm....the response came.. "Kyaaa karenge aap?".. I said, am in this situation first time in my life. and I dont want to waste my precious time here in the airport, having come to Mumbai just for a day!!..
ok.. "tho aaap bolo... kyaa karenge"...
" aapko kyaa mangtha hey, voh bolo... lemme see whether i can do.."
"nahi.. aaap hi bolo.. mey kuch bolne vaala nahi hoo.."
cursing the moment i forgot to take my old passport, i said, "ok.. I will pay u 1000 bugs!!"\
and the response ws immediate... "chalo... 1500 dhe dho... aur aaap chaliye.."
I dint want to pick up an argument again, and took my purse...
Immediately he told... " arrey... iddhar nahi dena... thats later" and he called a policeman by name.... and told him to take me out...
I pushed my trolley on the way out of the Airport, and immediately, the policeman guided me to a side room, where he took the money, and let me out!!!!

hmm... i wish i had recorded the whole thing in my mobile!!