- I Paid A Bribe
- 13 years ago
- 316 views
Chan-digger
- Police
- Traffic Violations
- Paid INR 3,500
I, Along with my mother (age84) Aunt (age 75) spouse (age 69) were traveling by car from Agra to Chandigarh, driven by a driver. Two policeman on a motorbike stopped us near the Wazirabad crossing from Delhi to Karnal. He asked the driver to open the boot, which he did, then he took the drivers license, then he wanted the car papers. I got out of the car and showed him a copy of the registration, pollution control certificate etc. I told him that my dad passed away three months ago, I am trying to help my mother transfer things in her name, including the car, the RTO's office has kept the original Registration card and will be issuing a new one in her name. I forgot the insurance papers at home, I told him I will let him talk to the insurance agent to verify this. He said he is not interested in talking to anyone, has no choice but to impound the vehicle, we can take another vehicle to get to Chandigarh and then come back to get this car by the owner, My father who is the present owner is not alive any more, my mother does not have the vehicle in her name yet. My husband and I pleaded with him, If my old mother and aunt were not with me, I would have let him take the car and produced the papers. He asked me if I had a brother, I said no, he said, just consider him my brother or son, or whatever I want to and think he is doing a great favor to me by saving me Rs 10,000 by not impounding the vehicle, but I would have to pay him Rs 3500.00 I said I am not carrying Rs 3500 with me, he said he has no choice, Then I asked my mother and aunt if they had any money, we managed to collect Rs 3500 amongst us. I asked him to give me a receipt for the Rs 3500, he looked at me as though I must be crazy for asking that question. I have never given a bribe in my whole life. I asked him if he believed us, he said, we looked like educated and honorable people. It seemed that he was not willing to resolve any issue, or give us a challan but was only looking to extract some money from us. We were in a car with Chandigarh plates. We felt harassed and humiliated. Anyway, I had no other choice but to give him the money and leave. We noted his name as it was on his name badge, my husband also noted the number plate on his motorcylce. He was a Delhi Policeman. He also said that people try to drop names of Ministers and other important people but he does not care. I am an NRI, which I did not tell him, I am sure he must have guessed that from our polite behavior. My husband is a doctor and I have been an administrator. I had heard stories about corruption amongst the police and other red tape, but after this experience, I felt ashamed of calling myself an Indian. If he had no alternative then he should have insisted on impounding the car, but he was only looking to make a fast buck! how can an ordinary person on the road trust a uniformed person, who should be there to help people not harass them. He stopped another scooter driver, when they person presented a piece of paper along with the license he tore it in pieces and slapped the guy. I was horrified. I hope i never have to deal with a situation like this again. If it was not for taking care of my old mother, I would not even want to come back to India. It seemed we were singled out because we had an out of state vehicle, they know that we will not be willing to put up with the inconvenience to come to claim the vehicle, so out of town cars are easy targets to make a quick buck and indulge in corruption. Harassed visitor