- I Paid A Bribe
- 14 years ago
- 633 views
Customs: "The department where bribes go in USD and EUR"
- Customs, Excise and Service Tax
- Customs Check and Clearance
- Paid INR 1,000
I reached India on 27th January 2011 on a JetAirways flight. I was waiting at this baggage claim with my fellow passengers and airport officials. It was a long flight from USA, so I was exhausted already. Suddenly, I saw an airport official come near me and talk to me sweetly. He was asking about USA, airports abroad, what I was doing and stuff like that. The baggages arrived and we were looking for our baggages. This gentlemen (Well at that time..Before this THING happened) started asking what color my baggage is and all that. I told him I can handle it myself and was looking for my baggage. My baggage arrived and this gentleman jumped right in and helped me collect my baggage and put it in the cart. After that, he started towing the cart by himself all of a sudden. He had some slip his hand (Some customs thing I guess.. which had a seal on it already) which he slipped into the Police officials in the airport and pushed my cart till the exit, before I could stop him. And then this is what happened..
He asked me 60. I though he was asking Rs.60 (which was like a $1), so I said I don't have cash, I will get from my friends waiting / or supposed to be waiting outside. He was in a state of urgency and then he goes.. "Rupees..?? Sir.. I meant dollars".. This is what I was thinking at that moment.. "Do you know what friggin' $60 is worth..??".. But I said, I don't have rupees on me.. (What a fool I was.. Well.. I was grown out to be one, as I was not in India for a while.. So I didn't know what $60's worth in rupees would be and I was incapable of handling that situation.) After arguing and bargaining.. I gave him $20 or Rs.1000.. (Yea.. Im swearing him in my mind right now..)
Well.. Not a good entry for anyone to India huh..?? I then thought to myself after breaking and trashing all my patriotic thoughts.. "This country sucks!!!"
PS: This is a great effort. Please keep it going. Looking forward to a non-corrupt or minimally corrupt officials in *******