• I Paid A Bribe
• 14 years ago
• 225 views

Paid Rs. 5000 as bribe for clearing my shipment with the Customs

• Customs, Excise and Service Tax
• Customs Check and Clearance
• Paid INR 5,000

I recently relocated to Bangalore from Europe and had shipped household effects through sea. My entire shipment contained used clothes, kitchen utensils and books. As I was availing 'Transfer of Residence' clause, I didn't have to pay any duty whatsoever.

However, the Customs Officer called me up for inspection - which she said that has to be done in my presence. I was called on 3/Aug/2011 at 9:00 am to Container Corporation (A Government of India enterprise). After waiting for nearly 6 hours, I had an audience with the Customs Officer for 2 minutes who said that she has completed the inspection and my shipment attracted a duty of Rs. 40,000. She didn't give any more details, but said that someone will provide me with the breakup of charges soon. After a wait of 3 hours, an office assistant came to me and verbally informed that my shipment contained lots of electronic items and hence I had to pay Rs. 40,000 as duty. He adviced me to ********** the officer on the next day, as she had already left for the day.

The next day, I went in around noon and got to ********** the Customs Officer at around 4:45 pm who repeated the same thing. I argued that I can prove that there is no dutiable item in my shipment, for which she barked back that she can't inspect the same consignment twice. I stood my ground by refusing to pay a penny and came back.

A week after (10-Aug-2011), I got a call from CONCOR that the Customs Officer wants to inspect my shipment again in my presence. I went there hoping for a resolution, but was shocked to find that my shipment was kept out in the open - subject to elements. I couldn't ********** the Customs Officer this time, but the office assistants told me that due to lack of space in the warehouse, my shipment is kept in the open (I could see that the warehouse was more than 60% empty). They further told me that if I don't pay up, they will eventually clear the shipment after some more delay, but would make it useless as it would be exposed to elements.

I had already wasted 3 days of time waiting in the Visitor's Room of the Customs Office at CONCOR. Also, there was a good risk of my effects getting out in the rain (think about the cartons of books kept out in the rain). I realised that I was fighting a lost battle and decided to pay the bribe to clear the shipment. I had to shell out Rs. 5000 without any reason.

I am not specifying any names here, but there is only one Customs Officer at Container Corporation of India Ltd at Whitefield, *******