- I Paid A Bribe
- 11 years ago
- 6438 views
It is ridiculous that you are seeking a complaint about the bribe…
- Customs, Excise and Service Tax
- Customs Clearance of Import Shipment
- Paid INR 30,00,000
It is ridiculous that you are seeking a complaint about the bribe paid to a Customs Officer as if demanding money by a customs officer is a stray case. Right from Top to Bottom everyone is living on their bribe money only. Unwanted procedures empower the officers to delay the clearance and the importer/CHA fearing for the penal charges (Container detention, Port Storage charges, CFS storage charges, penal charges claimed by the shipping line as and when the extension of validity of delivery order, etc), payment to Customs Staff, Appraiser, Examiner, Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner is inevitable.
None of the aforesaid customs staff are scared of their higher officials viz., Additional Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Commissioner (Exports, Commissioner (Imports), Chief Commissioner, Member Customs or even Chairman. Because, according to these staff and officers, all their superior officers are being shared with the money these people receive. In fact, they say, the unwanted procedures are in vogue only to delay the process and earn money.
In EDI system, prima facie there cannot be any delay in processing. But, in reality, these officers have the facility to set aside a bill of entry and/or shipping bill to bargain with the importer/exporter/CHA. If the bribe is not settled, the bill that has been set aside will be made unretrievable in the system.
In EDI system, Importe/CHA can file the bills from their office and the same will be assessed and sent for duty payment, customs inspection, etc. Original or bank certified documents shall be presented for verification by customs officers at the time of physical inspection of cargo. But in reality, the bills are set aside at the assessment stage itself if the Importer/Exporter/CHA is not present when the bill is appearing on the screen with a note to put up documents.
Funniest part is, after assessment, Clearing clerk will have to go to DC/AC's cabin and spell out the Shipping Bill or Bill of Entry number only when the AC/DC will release the bill. If CHA's rep does not meet the AC/DC for a week, the bill will be lying in his system only as unreleased. Though the higher officials viz., ADC, JC, COC, CC all have the access to the system to view these kind of bills, they don't question these officers. Bills are released only on payment. For every entry to AC/DC's cabin, the sepoy will collect Rs.50.0 minimum. Imagine his revenue per day. Minimum Rs,10/20 K per day. Then imagine the officers' collection per day.
DRI/SIB will take action against officers only when the revenue of customs is affected because of the negligence of these officers. They do not take any action for delay and consequent corruption. If that is taken, then probably corruption may come down.
Officers coming to their duty, particularly in off dock CFSs invariably after lunch only. This also delays the process and leads to corruption and bribe.
Contact the Customs House Agents for more details about this menace.