A woman in Bengaluru has accused a Rapido bike taxi rider of inappropriate behaviour during a ride on Friday, alleging that he tried to grab her legs while she was returning to her paying guest accommodation from Church Street.
The incident came to light after the woman detailed her ordeal in an Instagram post, where she described feeling shocked and unsafe during the journey.
“The captain tried to grab my legs while riding. It happened so suddenly that I couldn’t even process it, let alone record it,” she wrote.
🚨 Victim’s Account of the Incident
According to her post, the alleged incident occurred twice during the same ride. The woman said she confronted the rider the second time and asked him to stop.
“I told him, ‘Bhaiya, kya kar rahe ho, mat karo (What are you doing? Don’t do this…)’ but he didn’t stop,” she alleged.
She added that she chose not to get off the bike midway as she was new to the city and unfamiliar with the route.
Upon reaching her destination, a bystander noticed her distress and confronted the rider after hearing what had happened. The woman said the rider apologised, but his behaviour afterward made her feel even more unsafe.
“As he left, he pointed his finger at me in a way that made me feel even more threatened,” she claimed.
👮 Police Response
The Bengaluru City Police responded promptly after the woman’s post went viral, asking her to share the exact location and contact details to initiate a formal complaint and begin an official investigation.
A police official confirmed that the case is being reviewed under sections related to molestation and harassment, pending the victim’s formal statement.
🏍️ Rapido Issues Statement
In response to the allegations, Rapido issued an official statement expressing concern and assuring immediate action.
“We are concerned to learn about the captain’s inappropriate conduct during your recent ride. Your safety and comfort remain our top priorities. Kindly allow us some time to investigate the matter in detail,” Rapido said.
The company added that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment and will take disciplinary action once the internal inquiry concludes.
⚖️ Privacy and Legal Context
The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives on cases involving sexual assault or harassment.
The incident has reignited discussions around women’s safety in app-based transport services, with many social media users urging stricter background checks for ride-hailing captains and stronger redressal mechanisms.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
