Police in Bengaluru have arrested a bike taxi rider attached to Rapido for allegedly molesting a woman passenger during a morning ride, triggering renewed concerns over women’s safety and accountability in app-based transport services.
Incident during early morning commute
The victim, a 29-year-old woman residing in Nagarabhavi 2nd Stage, works as a manager at an IT firm located in Embassy Manyata Business Park. According to police, she booked a bike taxi around 8 am after running late for work.
Soon after picking her up, the rider allegedly misbehaved and groped her. Despite the woman warning him to stop and behave appropriately, he continued riding. Police said the rider later stopped near an underpass, where he is accused of molesting her again.
Swift police response
The woman raised an alarm, drawing the attention of nearby traffic police. They immediately alerted the Hoysala patrol, which responded to the scene. The victim subsequently approached the Annapoorneshwari Nagar Police and lodged a formal complaint.
Based on the ride details shared through the app, police identified and arrested the accused, Vivek (37), a resident of Manjunath Nagar, from his home.
Legal action and investigation
Police officials said the accused was produced before a court and has been remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to determine whether he has any prior criminal record and to examine safety compliance by the platform involved.
Larger safety concerns
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over passenger safety, particularly for women using bike taxis and app-based mobility services. Police have urged commuters to immediately report any form of harassment and assured strict action against offenders.
Authorities have also reiterated the need for aggregators to strengthen background verification, monitoring and rapid-response mechanisms to ensure safer rides for passengers.