NEW DELHI
Former national-level cricketer Pulkit Sharma has sparked an intense public debate after claiming he was forced to pay massive bribes during a land deal in Punjab. In a viral social media post, Sharma detailed the “insane” corruption he encountered while trying to register a property, despite having all his legal documents in order.
Sharma alleged that his lawyer informed him that every official has a “fixed rate” for their services. He claimed he had to pay off a tehsildar and over two dozen other staff members just to keep his file moving. The athlete described the administration as “crooked” and stated that even though his land purchase was completely transparent, the system felt designed to stall anyone who refused to pay extra. He concluded by saying that investing in Punjab currently feels “criminal.”
The post has divided the internet. While many users shared similar stories of government inefficiency and greed, others argued that paying bribes only fuels the problem. Some commenters claimed they successfully registered land without extra payments, suggesting that citizens should resist these demands.
However, Sharma stood by his words, explaining that brokers operate openly outside government offices. He claimed that officials intentionally show up late or create fake objections to pressure people into paying for faster service. This explosive allegation has put a spotlight on the state’s land department, with many now calling for a serious investigation into these deeply entrenched and shameful practices.
