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

Non-voluntary Gift Given for Court Marriage

Reported on April 12, 2011 from Pune , Maharashtra  ι Report #9272

I did my court marriage in Pune in April 2011. I did not use an agent since I had all my documents correctly and did not think of the process to be complicated or too time consuming. For the record, agents asked for 2k-2.5k.

The form did not clearly state that signatures are required at two places. So when I went the first time the official pointed it out. He asked me to submit Rs 300/- and all the other documents. He said you can give the form tomorrow and collect your receipt. I did as suggested. However, I made the mistake of not checking the receipt at the office itself. As it turned out, the receipt was for Rs 100/- only.

After 6 weeks, I went for the actual marriage. Some form signing and simple oath taking later, the Certificate of Marriage was issued. The official asked for Rs 500/-. I gave him the same because I thought that was the fee for the marriage. When I asked him for the receipt, he told me that the Certificate was also the receipt. This is the case sometimes in other offices.

When I exited the office, I realised that there was no receipt and the Gandhian note was simply a gift getting me married.

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