- I Paid A Bribe
- 14 years ago
- 250 views
Police verification for passport... 50% of Passport fees!
- Police
- Police Verification for Passport
- Paid INR 500
Hi! I am an Engineering student residing in Koramangala, Bangalore. I am planning to pursue my higher studies abroad next year. So I applied for passport. I didn't have any problems at the passport office and everything went smoothly. However getting the police verification done was a harrowing experience.
I needed my passport ASAP since I had to take up exams(and those exams require us to possess a passport). I applied for my passport in late november and went to the police station on 6th December. I found out that my file had reached the police station for verification. however, the concerned official(the station writer) wasn't present. So I was asked to wait but he didn't turn up for another 2 hours. So I was asked to come the next day.
The next day, India was playing against New Zealand in Bangalore. So again my work wasn't done. I went again on next day(8th December). Every time I went I was sent back due to some reason(I went 4 times and spent nearly 3-4 hours in the police station). I had my final exams from the next day and I requested the police to please go through my file but they took their own sweet time. Finally by 7 pm, they made me fill the forms, submit documents and the required procedure was followed. In the end, I was taken to the filing room and was asked to pay his 'fees'. I knew it was inevitable since my friends had told me how theirs' was delayed since they refused to pay up. I asked how much and he said Rs. 500. I was shocked! The fees for obtaining passport is Rs. 1000. And this policeman was demanding 50% of the passport fees! I humbly refused to pay up. He said the work won't be complete if I do not pay up. I had Rs 150 in my wallet and I said this is all I can pay. He took the money and told me indirectly that my passport will reach me very late. I told him that I can not pay him any more to which he replied "Let me see how you get your passport". It sent a chill down my spine!
I rushed home and got he remaining money and paid him and then he said that my passport will reach me on time! So disgusting! This was my first experience with the dirty corruption prevalent in our country.
I would like to add that, thankfully he kept his end of the bargain and I received my passport a month later. However, 2 of my friends who had also applied for passport with me, experienced worse things. They paid the bribe and still their file wasn't forwarded to the SP's office even after a month! They missed out the application deadline for a *******