He explained in the language that the investigator understood!

4 August 2015 06:30 pm

This veteran white collar bigwig once functioned as the secretarial one of the main office in the state sector, recently was summoned to a Police probe unit for questioning regarding a certain tender affair.


The inquiring officer, a young man in uniform began asking questions. “The technical report says that the project could be completed at a cost not exceeding Rs.35 million. But a Rs.40 million tender has been picked toward the contract!”

The veteran bureaucrat explained that there were a number of other factors than the Technical report to be taken into reckoning in the matter of selecting the most suitable tender. And he proceeded to explain all other factors to the young inquiring officer.

However, the officer looked unimpressed. “So you gave the contractor Rs.5 million in excess in order to get it back as your ‘cut’?” he asked the former secretarial one. 

The veteran bureaucrat with a clean record felt highly affronted by the question, but he held his anger under check.

“OK, officer. Place on record my answer to your question:  A contractor is required to offer a bribe to mine sand from the river. He has to bribe those on the road when transporting the sand. He has to bribe to fell trees. He has to bribe again when transporting the logs. You ought to know whom the contractor has to bribe. Therefore, no contractor would seek a contract at the estimated cost. Have you any more questions to ask?”
The inquiring officer replied: “No more questions!”