• I Paid A Bribe
• 14 years ago
• 1283 views

Collection Agents/beggers at the Aiport

• Customs, Excise and Service Tax
• Customs Check and Clearance
• Paid INR 10,000

We were coming back home after living in US for more than 5yrs and along with us we bought just 1 electronic item (Bose Home theater) that we owned for more than 2yrs. As soon as they saw the bose box 2 custom officers stop us and questioning abt the contents in the box. I told them that its Bose Home Theater and that’s the only electronic item we had as part of our baggage. Then he demanded us to pay customs duty on that...even after i explain to him that i'm allowed to bring 1 used electronic item as part of Transfer of residence...as usual he started to refuse/ignore to what I say and claims that I can't bring such thing with me….i was already frustrated with the travel/waiting in almost 36hrs of journey. I first said I will not pay even a penny do what you want to do…since i’m allowed to bring such item with me and also raised my voice asking for his senior….also questioned him that is this the way you welcome home your fellow citizens and also that crap…didn’t even for a second I got his attention…later I decided to pay that duty rather than paying the officer (bribe). Officer calculated the duty of Rs.26,000 and I immediately refuse to pay such an amount…all this while my wife was standing there and it was such an humiliation for us arguing with this officer…after hour long discussion we gave up as I said both of us were tired and frustrated with the journey and decided to give up and paid the bribe (Rs10000) to the officer….such a bad experience.