- I Paid A Bribe
- 14 years ago
- 799 views
Even the dead have to pay ! State government people are filthier than their offices
- Municipal Services
- Death certificate
- Paid INR 4,100
In the absence of a Will document, after my father expired I had to get the Legal Heir certificate to transfer the non-nominated bank accounts and fixed deposits to my mother's account. I did apply for one and was made to roam around the Tahasildar office and the Nemmadi Kendra. It all starts with the Village Accountant signing a report after enquiring within the neighborhood about the family and the family members. Not to mention the torture you have to face saying you should have taken a copy of pension document, voter's id (when in fact I had submitted the passport copy as ID and address proof), utility bill in his name, rental agreement, etc. While I had to drive him till my home, he sits there in the car and asks me to get the signatures from 5 neighbours. And all the way he keeps cribbing about not having his lunch and laying the blame squarely on me when infact I came to his office straight from taluk office without even having me breakfast, leave alone lunch !! So I had to take him to a restaurant of his choice, started on Bannerghatta rd. and ended up in jayanagar by the time he chose a place to eat. I then had to pay the bill and also pay him Rs. 300/- (Good thing is he didn't ask for the specific amount, he said "nodi ********** sir" (you be the judge as to how much you want to give), and you would appreciate why I said its a good thing if you read below)
It then has to be taken to this person called RI (not sure if its Revenue Inspector or something else) in the Taluk office. Though he is sat there and people can ********** him for his signature, apparently you are not supposed to do that. You are to ********** his right/left hand guy, this all important clerk (sitting there looking like a pimp and acting like one) who lays bare the rules of the "taluk office". He asks for the form and then you give him and he then, with a straight-face asks for money (in kannada "uhhh matte duddu?"). Don't ever ask how much. Someone told me Rs 3000/- is enough, so I give him that much. He then says its not enough, for which I said you get the certificate I shall pay you more. He is now all happy, takes my number and says he would get everything sorted and give me a call. Much to my surprise he calls in the afternoon (ever heard of a state govt. person calling you regarding YOUR work ?) saying the certificate is ready and I can go collect it.
He has carefully put the certificate into this safe next to him, which even a kindergarten kid can break with its little finger. He says its time to show him the money !! Thought I will outsmart him, I had only Rs. 1100/- in my wallet, which I showed him and said that is all I had. He sais it wasn't enough. He has now seen my debit card, he points to it and says there is an ATM in the ground floor and I had to get him another 1000/-, otherwise he wouldn't give me the certificate. All I felt was plain DISGUST by the thought that I had to go through all this within the first month after my father passed away suddenly due to heart-attack. And then I rang my ex-neighbour who knew the clerk and then told him that I have already paid so much and would not like to pay more. He talks to the clerk and apparently had promised he would get another "bakra" next time from whom he could charge 1000/- more. And then I get the cetificate that I wanted.
I'm guilty of paying bribe, though I do not appreciate paying anyone, especially if they don't deserve it in the first place. I had to pay because I was running short of time as I had to head back to the UK, where I work.