Corruption
IITian Entrepreneur Reveals: Bribe is Called ‘Out-of-Pocket Expenses’ in Bureaucratic Circles
Aman Rai, an IIT Delhi alumnus and entrepreneur who made waves on Shark Tank India last year, is now grappling with the harsh realities of bureaucracy.
Rai, whose home gym startup Aroleap secured a Rs 1 crore deal on the show, recently revealed his struggles with obtaining a factory license without succumbing to bribery demands.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Rai detailed his ordeal. While navigating the licensing process for his manufacturing facility, he was approached by a vendor who suggested “out-of-pocket expenses” amounting to Rs 70,000 to expedite the approval. Unwilling to compromise his principles, Rai decided to handle the application himself, only to face a demand for Rs 1 lakh in bribes from officials.
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Frustrated by the ordeal, Rai took to social media to expose the systemic corruption.
“Dark side of Make in India! Filed for the license directly, now being asked for Rs 1 lakh as a bribe. How can entrepreneurs expect ease of doing business in such an environment?” he wrote.
The post quickly gained traction, amassing over 4 lakh views. It caught the attention of a senior commerce ministry official, who reached out to Rai and assured him the matter would be addressed promptly.
“X is powerful. A senior official reached out after this blew up. Hopefully, this gets resolved soon,” Rai shared in an update.
While Rai’s case might see resolution, his story resonated with countless others. Entrepreneurs flooded the comments section with similar experiences, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.
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Manish Sharma, another entrepreneur, shared his plight: “We were asked for Rs 2 lakh for permissions at our new factory location. We refused, and now I’ve been summoned to court under the Code of Criminal Procedure.”
Many users urged Rai to name the officials involved, while others emphasized the need for greater transparency and accountability in government departments. One user aptly summed up the sentiment: “Your issue might get resolved without a bribe, but thousands of others won’t.”
Rai’s experience underscores the challenges faced by entrepreneurs despite government initiatives like Make in India. While his post might lead to a positive outcome, it also serves as a stark reminder of the hurdles that continue to stifle India’s entrepreneurial spirit.
