Bribe in EMIs! Corrupt Gujarat babus ‘with a heart’ now accepting bribe in installments
In a peculiar yet concerning trend, corrupt Gujarat government officials are now offering citizens the option of paying bribes in installments, akin to the structure of bank loans. This practice, termed 'empathetically corrupt,' has surfaced as a purportedly 'considerate' approach to ease the financial burden on individuals coerced into offering bribes, a TOI report stated.
Consider the following instances: In March of this year, a staggering bribe of Rs 21 lakh was demanded from an individual embroiled in an SGST bogus billing scam. To mitigate the financial strain, the amount was divided into nine EMIs of Rs 2 lakh each, along with one payment of Rs 1 lakh.
Similarly, on April 4, a deputy sarpanch and taluka panchayat member in Surat demanded an Rs 85,000 bribe for a farming-related favor. Sensing the financial constraints of the villager, the accused proposed an EMI plan – an upfront payment of Rs 35,000, followed by three equal installments for the balance.
