Dr. Nishith Shah

I refused to pay a bribe after my passport verification, so the officer complained about me to my mother A passport verification officer came to my house yesterday. The verification was completed. I deliberately acted as if I had absolutely no idea that I was supposed to pay him something extra for his honest and timely service. He stared at me and kept smiling for almost 30 seconds. When I still did not take out any money, his expression changed. He stood up and said in a very rude tone "Oh, so you are one of those. Fine." I thought that was the end of it. But a little later, my mother returned from the temple, And the same officer actually complained to her about me. He said "Tell me, is this fair ? I also spent money on petrol and rode my bike all the way here." I honestly started wondering Has paying a bribe become so normal that refusing to pay one makes you the wrong person ? Government employees are paid to do their jobs. So why should petrol expenses become an additional charge for doing an official verification ? The most shocking part was not that he expected money. It was that he felt entitled to it and was actually upset when he did not get it. There was no shame in asking for a bribe. The problem was that I had the audacity not to pay one. Have you ever faced something similar during passport verification or any other government service ? Share your experience in comments