- I Paid A Bribe
- 10 years ago
- 3285 views
Paid a bribe to escape being harassed
- Police
- Police Harassment
- Paid INR 200
I was visiting Pondicherry with my family (wife son-toddler, father and mother) on 29th Dec 2013. On my return from the city I stopped at a traffic signal on the sign turning red. I was on the left most corner of the street and heard a vehicle honk behind me. I waited for few secs and when he continued honking I slowly moved to the right to give way. All along a traffic constable was watching this on the other side and when the signal turned green and I proceeded ahead, he stopped me and asked me to park the vehicle and come. On doing as told, he asked me to talk to a guy who was in plain clothes and sitting on a beat patrol motorcycle. I was informed that I had blocked the free left and so I had to leave my car with them come the next day and pay the prescribed fine at the court and then take my vehicle. I tried to explain to him that I had moved to the right on hearing the vehicle honk and if I and moved forward I would have crossed the line which was also an offence. To this he laughed and said you are right I would have caught you if you and moved ahead also. At this point I offered to pay the fine and asked him to charge me to which he said I can't take any money so I will only charge a case and you can come back tomorrow and pay it in the court. After some haggling he told me if I wanted to leave then with the vehicle I would have to pay him Rs 200/- Given the situation I agreed to pay 200 and leave but having paid a bribe left a very and taste with me. I would have been happy to pay the required fine and get a receipt for the same if I and committed an offence. but the present system facilitates paying a bribe over paying the government even if one commits an offence. In fact the plain clothes policeman who noted down the vehicle number on taking the money told me. Sir I have taken money from you so I will definitely be true to you saying this he struck off the vehicle registration number from his notebook.