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A Bengaluru woman has alleged that a Rapido auto-rickshaw driver molested her during a ride on September 8, leading to a police case of sexual harassment.
Board showing a ‘Rapido’ pick-up and drop point (Photo: PTI)
A woman in Bengaluru has alleged she was molested by a Rapido auto-rickshaw driver during one of her rides. According to NDTV, the incident happened on September 8, when the woman had booked the Rapido ride from Kumaraswamy Layout near Dayananda Sagar College in the city.
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The complaint in the matter suggested that the driver, identified as Hanumanthappa H Talawar, first likened her to a film actress, then made inappropriate comments.
The woman further alleged that the driver the touched her on the forehead under the pretext of checking for fever. He then allegedly molested her by inappropriately touching her chest.
According to the report, the driver also insisted she remained in the auto after she tried to get off.
She eventually pushed him away and jumped out of the vehicle to return home, as per the report.
The incident came to light after the woman informed her mother and filed a police complaint.
Later, a case of sexual harassment was registered against the driver, though he was not arrested yet.
The report quoted an official statement by Rapido following the matter.
“We are deeply disturbed by the incident reported in Bengaluru. No one should ever feel unsafe or harassed while using our platform. Upon learning of the matter, we immediately reached out to the passenger to offer support and assured her of strict action,” Rapido said.
“The captain has since then been permanently suspended and blacklisted from Rapido to ensure he cannot take rides in the future. We are also reinforcing refresher training across our fleet to maintain professional conduct and prevent such incidents from recurring,” it added.
“We are fully cooperating with all investigating authorities and will provide all possible support to ensure that justice is delivered. The trust and safety of our passengers, especially women, are non-negotiable at Rapido; we maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy against any form of harassment,” the company stated.
“We also have multiple safeguards in place, including post-10:00 pm safety calls to women riders to confirm ride completion, 24×7 in-app SOS support with rapid escalation, and continuous safety reminders urging riders to verify vehicle and captain details before every trip,” it mentioned.
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About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
September 16, 2025, 12:53 IST
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