Bengaluru: A disturbing video of a Rapido driver assaulting a woman passenger in Bengaluru’s Jayanagar went viral on social media and made people furious. The incident took place three days ago, and the woman denied filing an FIR. The police then filed a non-cognizable report (NCR), which they are now planning to convert into an FIR, given the gravity of the situation.
As police probe the incident, CCTV footage shows that the Rapido driver slapped the woman after she hit her following what appears to be an argument. The Rapido driver, who has been detained by the Bengaluru police, had allegedly told the woman to “go back to her country”. He also claimed that the woman had hit her twice before he hit her.
What has happened?
The woman, reportedly employed at a jewellery store, booked Rapido to reach her destination. However, she allegedly confronted the rider about rash driving near a footwear showroom and later decided to end the ride when the driver turned a deaf ear to her requests.
Soon, the verbal altercation turned into a physical one after the woman allegedly refused to pay the fare and return the helmet to the rider. The driver then hit the woman, and he did so with so much force that the woman fell to the ground.
The now-viral video shows the two engaged in a heated argument, with both seemingly urging bystanders to step in. Shockingly, even when the man slapped the woman, no one intervened.
A #Rapido driver in Jayanagar, #Bengaluru, attacked a woman after she confronted him about reckless driving. He slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground. The police have initiated an investigation. pic.twitter.com/2bEcSH8QI9
— Ashish (@KP_Aashish) June 16, 2025
Rapido driver’s counter claims
“She booked on Rapido in the morning at 9:00 am. I picked her up from her location; she was already speaking rashly, telling me where to go,” India Today quoted the driver as saying.
The driver added that when he took a shortcut to help the woman reach her destination faster, given Bengaluru’s notorious traffic, a car came in his way. That’s when, according to the driver as reported by the outlet, she rudely asked him if he knew how to drive and what he had studied.
“So I got angry and said, ‘Go back to your country,’” he reportedly told her.
According to the driver, the situation escalated when the woman hit him twice, once using her tiffin box.
Karnataka: High Court directive on bike rides
As per a recent High Court directive, bike rides may not be seen on Karnataka’s roads anymore after the state government said that bike taxis cannot operate as commercial vehicles.
“Three months back, the court decided bike taxis were illegal. They had given six weeks. Again, on their request, they have given six more weeks. Now, 12 weeks are over, and they (aggregators) must follow the High Court’s order,” said Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.
“Starting June 16, 2025, our Bike Taxi services in Karnataka will be paused in compliance with recent High Court orders,” Rapido notified users.
It added, “While we deeply believe in the value bike taxis bring to daily commuters, we respect the law and will fully abide by the directive. We remain committed to the communities we serve and hopeful for a future where convenient, affordable mobility is accessible to all.”
However, a “bike parcel” service is available on the app.