A Bengaluru auto driver, Muthuraj, who was arrested earlier for allegedly slapping a woman passenger, has been released from police custody. Muthuraj, who had been accused of abuse following a ride cancellation, maintains his innocence regarding the slap, claiming he only grabbed the woman’s phone to prevent her from contacting the police.
In an interview with the YouTube channel Auto Ratha Saradhi, Muthuraj admitted to his mistake of seizing the phone but denied the physical assault. He described the incident as a spur-of-the-moment reaction.
Key Points:
- Incident Details: Muthuraj acknowledged grabbing the woman’s phone but refuted the claim of slapping her.
- Aftermath: Following the incident, Muthuraj was banned from all major aggregator apps like Ola and Uber, and reported receiving threatening calls. He has faced significant challenges, including financial difficulties and threats.
- Public Reaction: The driver has received some crowd-funded support to cover legal expenses and expressed gratitude towards those who assisted him.
Muthuraj highlighted the tough conditions faced by auto drivers, including meeting daily targets, which he believes contributes to such incidents. He has indicated plans to engage with auto unions to address his situation.
The controversy began when a video surfaced showing Muthuraj allegedly abusing a woman passenger for canceling a ride and booking another one. Bengaluru police have advised the public to contact emergency services like 112 in such cases.
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