A video showing a Rapido bike taxi driver allegedly assaulting a woman passenger in Bengaluru’s Jayanagar area has gone viral. The incident reportedly took place on Saturday, June 14, after the woman, who is said to be an employee at a jewellery store, confronted the rider for rash driving during their trip.
While the police have registered an FIR based on the woman’s complaint, the police are also investigating an extended video uploaded on social media, which shows the woman assaulting the bike driver.
The police filed an FIR on Monday, June 16, based on the woman’s complaint. The driver has been charged under Sections 79 (act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, the confrontation between the woman and the bike taxi driver escalated into a heated exchange that eventually turned physical. The argument worsened, allegedly due to a communication barrier, as the woman spoke only in English, while the driver communicated only in Kannada.
The dispute intensified when the woman allegedly refused to pay the fare and return the helmet. In the viral video, the driver is seen slapping the woman, causing her to fall to the ground. Footage also shows the two arguing and trying to involve bystanders.
Meanwhile, the other video shows the driver and the woman arguing and the woman hitting the driver twice.
Bike taxis have gone off the roads in Bengaluru starting from June 16. This comes following a High Court order from April. The Karnataka High Court directed the state government to suspend two-wheeler taxi services, stating that they are not permitted to operate as commercial vehicles. The state government has supported the court’s stance.
“Three months back, the court decided bike taxis were illegal. They had given six weeks to stop operations. The deadline was extended for another six weeks on their request. Now, 12 weeks are over, and they (aggregators) must follow the High Court’s order,” Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said.