- I Paid A Bribe
- 13 years ago
- 367 views
Duplicate document cost me bribe of Rs 4900.
- Municipal Services
- Conversion Certificate
- Paid INR 4,900
Upon verification of my property documents, I found that I was missing a certificate of "conversion charge". There is a provision that if conversion charge is not paid, municipal authorities can not assess tax on the property, nor will accept any tax, nor will issue title documents. Though my conversion certificate was missing, I had all the tax paid receipts and title documents with me.
The normal fee to get such a duplicate document is Rs 100, but the official there demanded 7000 rupees, which, after negotiation came down to 5000. I needed that document urgently, so I had to pay a bribe of Rs 4900. The problem was compounded as I did not speak Kannada, the local language, nor did I know someone in the sub-registrar office. So I was at a mercy of the official.
It is said that corruption is at its peak in Bihar, the place I belong to, but I see it many times more in Karnataka.