A video that recently surfaced on social media showing a Bengaluru woman allegedly being slapped and harassed by an Ola driver after she cancelled her ride booked through the app has raised concerns regarding the growing number of disputes between rickshaw drivers and passengers. The disputes often involve complaints about overcharging and cancellations in the Silicon Valley of India.
In the video shared by the woman on X, an agitated cab driver argues aggressively with her. When she asks why he is shouting, he responds, “Tera baap deta hai kya gas ke paise?” (Does your father pay me for the gas?).
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The woman then states her intention to file a police complaint, to which the driver responds that she is free to do so. When she inquires about why he slapped her, the enraged driver attempts to snatch her phone and insists she get into his auto to go to the police station, but she refuses. The video ends with the driver eventually leaving.
The man accused in the incident, identified as Muthuraj, 45, was arrested by the Magadi Road police after the video went viral on social media, police confirmed on Thursday.
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Earlier, in July, another Bengaluru resident had shared her “harrowing” experience with an Ola Auto driver over fare issue.
In Bengaluru, the issue of auto rickshaw grievances is becoming increasingly prevalent. The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) have reported a significant rise in complaints, with the city receiving 20-25 calls daily related to auto rickshaw problems, according to a report by Hindu.
As of July 31, 2024, BTP have recorded a significant surge in complaints against auto rickshaw drivers, with 2,586 cases of fare refusals and 2,582 cases of demanding excess charges. This represents a notable increase from previous years, with 2,183 cases of fare refusals and 2,179 cases of overcharging reported in 2022, followed by a slight decrease in 2023 to 1,537 refusals and 1,599 instances of overcharging.
The surge in reported cases of auto rickshaw drivers refusing fares and overcharging is partly attributed to increased public awareness and the ease of reporting through the emergency number 112. However, not all reports result in formal complaints, as some instances only involve providing vehicle registration details to facilitate police action.