- I Paid A Bribe
- 14 years ago
- 276 views
Party to custom's officer stealing from the government
- Customs, Excise and Service Tax
- Customs Check and Clearance
- Paid INR 3,500
On my return from a business trip to Dubai, I purchased a 40" LED TV. At Mumbai airport, I walked to the custom's desk and presented the receipt for my TV. The officer looked at it and said, "Per your receipt, your duty is Rs 6,000. However, per our internal list it is Rs 10,000. What do you want to do ?".
I explained to the officer that I was aware of the 6000 duty and was carrying just that much to pay. I asked her whether the internal list she was referring to was published on the internet so I could refer to it. She said no, it was for their internal purposes only.
She said I could give her something instead of having to pay Rs 10,000.
I politely held my ground saying I was ready to pay Rs 6000 as per the receipt and that I did not have any more money (honestly did not have more than Rs 7000 ).
So she kept me waiting, while she spoke to her bosses. She came back with the same offer of letting me go if I paid them something.
I told her I want to pay Rs 6000 and I have no interest in how she structures the payment - i.e.: I will pay what I owe and if she wants to take a cut out of it - I don't need to be made aware of it.
She made it clear to me that I could walk away paying much lesser out of my pocket if I simply gave her something. I refused to pay anything but Rs 6000.
Finally, she said - pay Rs 2000 duty and pay me Rs 4000.
This is where I succumbed and said Ok.
So she made out a receipt of Rs 1800 and asked me to give her Rs 3500 under the table.
So while I paid almost the amount of duty I owed the government - I also was party to a crime of the officer stealing a bulk of it from the government.
I am not sure whether I
a) did not rob from the govt by shelling out my dues
b) or a criminal by being a party to the crime
c) or just plain stupid by not bargaining on the amount of the bribe.
Maybe I should've just stuck to my principles and fought it out or then completely been practical and bargained.
What i did leaves me without the money and the honesty.