Custom officer asks Rs.1 lakh for 'Chai Paani' for refund of deposited money
Source: IT News
Imphal, June 04 2020:
A custom officer was caught in camera while asking a sum of rupees 1(one) lakh for 'Chai Paani' (for tea, water) that too, to an Advocate who had visited the office of the Asst/Deputy Commissioner Customs Division, Chingmeirong in connection with a case for the release of deposited money for the seizure of a vehicle.
Video of the whole scene was uploaded on social networking site Facebook by advocate Chongtham Victor from his ID Victor Khaba.
In the video, an official of the Customs Division office is heard asking money saying that - gari thadokpagisidi khorsha paisa khara adum tounabani (everyone pays money for chai pani for release of vehicle) .
When this newspaper contacted advocate Chongtham Victor, he said that the Custom officer identified as Mohammad Abdul Hassan, an Inspector, openly asked money to one of his associate lawyer Amom Malemsemba, when he visited the Customs Division office, Chingmeirong in connection with a case for refund of the deposited money.
The whole episode was captured in video by Advocate Amom Malemsemba and Victor uploaded it at the Social networking site Facebook.
The Custom Inspector even told Malemsemba not to take photographs.
Victor further said that a bus was seized by the custom official along with gold some months back.
Following formalities a sum of rupees 10 lakhs has been deposited to the custom office for the vehicle on the ground that a sum of Rs 5 Lakh has to be deducted.
When, Advocate Malemsemba went to the office of the Custom Division at around 3 pm yesterday (June 3, 2020) the Custom Inspector asked him to pay Rs 1 (One) lakh for refund of the refundable money (Rs 5 Lakh) , Victor told Imphal Times.
In the video, a heated argument between the Custom Inspector and advocate Malemsemba was heard.
Malemsemba questioned the Custom Officer on the reason for asking Rs.1 (one) lakh.
In response, the Custom Officer was heard saying that everyone pay money for release of vehicle.
The officer is also heard saying, "How come an advocate don't know that tradition" (Ukil oiraga adu phaoba khangdaba) .