A disturbing video of a Rapido bike taxi driver assaulting a woman passenger in Bengaluru’s Jayanagar has sparked outrage online. The woman, reportedly employed at a jewellery store, had confronted the rider for rash driving and got off mid-ride. A language barrier worsened the argument — she spoke only English, while the driver spoke only Kannada.
Tensions flared when the woman refused to pay the fare and return the helmet, prompting the driver to slap her, causing her to fall. Despite the altercation occurring in public, bystanders failed to intervene, drawing further criticism.
Police urged the woman to file an FIR, but she declined. Instead, a non-cognizable report was filed, and an investigation is ongoing.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of bike taxis in Karnataka. A High Court order in April directed the state government to suspend all two-wheeler taxi operations, stating that they cannot be considered commercial vehicles under current law.
Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy noted that the aggregators, including Rapido, were granted a 12-week grace period to comply. “Now the time is up, and they must follow the court’s order,” he emphasized.
Bengaluru’s bike taxi sector is massive, with Rapido controlling 60% of the market and recording 16.5 lakh rides daily. An estimated 1.5 lakh gig workers depend on these platforms statewide.
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