- I Paid A Bribe
- 14 years ago
- 2173 views
Greasing to get my passport renewed
- Passport
- Renewal of Passport
- Paid INR 5,000
Needed to get my passport renewed. I applied in Bangalore office, but as I am domicile of MP one of my address verification went to Bhopal office. Bhopal office sent a negative report to Bangalore office w/o specifying the exact reason.
I waited for around couple of months and then out of frustrations and advise of a close friend, I hired an agent. Agent explained the current RPO situation and said if I pay the bribe of INR 5000 the work will be done in 72 hours guaranteed. He also mentioned that the then current RPO office was the corruptest ever and he won't move the file without money.
After paying the money the file was cleared and I got my passport renewed in next 24 hours.
Agent gave me lot of insider scoop and also how the 5K amount will be transacted and divided. Some salient features :
1- The RPO head at that time was the root cause and he bred corruption and personally asked for money on each file
2- the money used to be Xsacted at the paan shop across the street and there was cut for paan-wala as well
3- If you already have USA/ UK visa on your passort, there is very high possibility that the passport will not come back without greasing.
Btw in this entire episode I must appreciate the Bangalore passport office that did their work diligently without resorting to any kind of money. Though one of the deptt. employee made me do multiple rounds, but no money exchange.
RPO Bhopal the worst ever experience. It was back in 2005, but it still hurts me as this was the first time I paid bribe.