• I Paid A Bribe
• 12 years ago
• 908 views

Traffic Policeman insisted on bribe than challan

• Police
• Traffic Violations
• Paid INR 100

Sometime back, I was passing by IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon with my wife and baby daughter (coming from MG Road (malls side) going to join the highway towards Delhi). I passed through the intersection while the light was still green (and is supposed to be yellow for about 5 seconds more). But I think the yellow light is disabled there and so after green, no light is lit for some time before red appears. Now, the traffic policeman stopped me and waited there till the light turned red. After it turned red, he came to me and said that I skipped the light. I told him that I passed on green light but he didnot agree to me at all. He said I'll do a challan. I had no choice but to agree to it. But then he insisted on giving Rs.1100 cash as bribe (instead of the challan for the same amount). I strongly oppose corruption, so I insisted on the challan. He talked very rudely and kept on speaking in a bad language ("tujhe seedhe se samajh nahin aa rahi kya" and sentences like those) But I softly, yet firmly insisted on getting challan done. He took my license and RC and asked me to step out of the car. I obeyed him (while my wife and daughter were still in the car). He asked me who's kid was in the car. I said 'mine'. Then he started passing bad comments about me relating to my kid. I felt that I was being trapped. Then he said, "chal 100 rupye de de". I asked him, why Rs. 100, what will you do with it? The other officer (who was a bit senior I think - he was a little stout and sitting on the chair) said " Daru peeyenge, bol?"
I was also a bit scared since this person had my RC and license and my wife and daughter were in the car and it was night time. So I submitted to his wants and gave him Rs. 100/-. Now I ask the Traffic Police what is their use when they cannot even control these open rowdiness with the citizens? I ask - What - exactly what role does Traffic Police play here when they are not really protecting you but in fact you need to protect yourself from them? I have been seeing both these officers on IFFCO chowk for a long time now - not sure if they have moved from there now but I think I saw them there until very recently.