- I Paid A Bribe
- 13 years ago
- 1777 views
Brought a TV set
- Customs, Excise and Service Tax
- Customs Check and Clearance
- Paid INR 1,500
This was back in 2003 when I landed at Kochi airport from Muscat, Oman. While standing in the queue to Immigration dept. I noticed passengers with cartons being targeted. Even those carrying small cartons with permitted amount of goods were being questioned and made to pay for it. My turn came and the lady at the counter insisted on making a payment for the TV set I was carrying. She warned me that if I didn't oblige there were the customs guys, pointing towards the white-clad men a few metres away. Having no other go I took out the Indian currency that I had (Rs. 1500). She asked me to keep it inside the passport and hand it over to a policeman standing next to the counter. He grabbed the money from the passport, quickly thrust it into his pocket and returned the passport to me. He then directed me to get out of the gate as soon as possible.