New Delhi: Delhi Police have initiated an inquiry after activist Bharti Chaturvedi’s detailed account of an alarming ordeal with an Uber driver went viral on X, prompting widespread outrage and renewed concerns over women’s safety in the capital.

Chaturvedi’s post recounted how she struggled for hours to get assistance from both the police and Uber after attempting to file a complaint. Her experience, she wrote, reflects a growing climate of lawlessness in Delhi and a recurring failure of emergency services to respond effectively to women in distress.

According to her account, she had booked an Uber from Vasant Vihar to Sarvodaya Enclave. When the location pin froze near Essex Farms, the driver agreed to continue without it. However, he soon became agitated, began shouting, and abruptly turned the vehicle around when she asked him to go straight before taking a U-turn.

When Chaturvedi asked him to stop, the driver allegedly refused. She said she was forced to open the door mid-ride to interrupt the journey, at which point the driver allegedly turned back, grabbed her arm, and twisted it.

She wrote that she immediately dialled 100 but received no response. Contacting Uber Safety yielded little help, she said, as she was advised to “call 100 again.” Chaturvedi added that an Uber representative named Sanjana informed her that the team would “assess action,” a response she described as outrageous.

Tagging the Delhi Police in her post, she asked, “How do women contact you when in need?” She also mentioned that the driver did not take payment for the trip.

Hours after her post gained traction — and after she emailed the Delhi Police Commissioner — the Delhi Police responded on X, saying the matter had been taken into cognisance and was under inquiry. They contacted her via direct message seeking more details.

Uber later issued a public statement saying, “This is very concerning. Behaviour like this is absolutely not condoned, and your safety shall always remain a priority. Please share the specific trip details and registered contact information via Direct Message. Our safety team will be in touch with you shortly.”

Chaturvedi challenged Uber’s response, saying she had already spoken with their safety team. “I called your safety team. They had my details. Sanjana is planning a meeting, brainstorming, deciding if it's bad enough or not, and assuring me Uber cares for my safety. Please coordinate internally, or tell me if you want my details again,” she wrote.