Distressing Incident Involving Uber Driver in Bengaluru

In a troubling incident in Bengaluru, a woman experienced a distressing situation with an Uber driver who seized her phone after a dispute over payment methods. The episode has further highlighted concerns about passenger safety in the city’s ride-hailing services.

The woman was travelling from Whitefield to Bannerughatta Road and opted for an online payment method through the Uber app. Upon entering the vehicle, the driver insisted on payment via cash or UPI, which the woman could not provide. Her husband explained that the payment was already processed through Uber Money and that changing the payment method to cash was not feasible.

The situation escalated when the driver, frustrated by the payment issue, grabbed the woman’s hand and took her phone. Despite her attempts to clarify that the transaction had been completed and showing a screenshot as proof, the driver remained hostile and aggressive.

According to the woman’s husband, the driver’s anger was palpable, leading him to snatch the phone from her hand. She attempted to call for help, resulting in her shouting and contacting the building guards. The driver continued to refuse to return the phone for approximately 30 minutes, exacerbating the woman’s distress.

Neighbours responded promptly to the woman’s call for help and contacted the police. Despite the police arriving on the scene, the driver still hesitated to return the phone until considerable time had passed. Eventually, he handed the phone back, but the delay and the driver’s behaviour had already caused significant distress.

Following the incident, the woman and her husband visited the local police station to file a formal complaint. The driver was subsequently detained and spent the night in custody pending further investigation.

This incident underscores the persistent safety concerns faced by women using ride-hailing services in Bengaluru. It highlights the need for robust measures to ensure the safety and security of passengers. Both ride-hailing companies and local authorities are under increasing pressure to address these issues and prevent such incidents from recurring.

Ensuring that ride-hailing services are safe and reliable is crucial, and incidents like these call for a review of protocols and enhanced measures to protect passengers from similar situations.