Pune Railway Station Parking — Extortion by Pune Railway Station Parking Lot attendant in collusion with auto rickshaw drivers

Address:

Maharashtra

I parked my car at the Pune parking lot on the Jehangir Hospital side morning on August 16th, 2013 at 9:10am. The parking lot was filled with auto rickshaws (blocking may parked cars) such that it was very difficult to find parking. There was no parking staff available to help park the car. I finally found a spot. I picked up my parents and started to reverse the car. The parking lot attendant appeared out of nowhere and asked for the 10/- which I paid (and got a receipt). Meanwhile since autos was all over the place in the parking lot, there was very little room to maneuver. I was reversing the car slowly, there was another auto driver directing me. In the process, the back of my car slightly touched an auto that was parked there. There was no damage to either my car or the auto. But the parking attendant immediately went and reported this to a couple of people that were probably union leaders there who promptly came and without listening to anything I had to say, demanded Rs 100/-. With all of this, the driver of the auto involved in the incident got emboldened and started demanding money. They stood in front of my car not allowing me to move. When I asked why I should pay when there was no damage, the union leaders asked the auto driver to take a big stone and hit my car. He said then the damages would be even. The parking lot attendant was watching the fun, laughing at us and urging me to pay the amount so that other vehicles could move. Since my elderly parents were in the car, I didn't want to prolong this further and seeing as they were getting violent, I paid the 100 rupees and left. There was no police in sight, so I couldn't wait there blocking the traffic and inconveniencing everyone including my parents that are senior citizens.