Bengaluru: A woman has accused a Rapido bike driver of sexually harassing her during a ride, claiming that the rider behaved inappropriately and made explicit remarks. The complaint led to police action, resulting in the arrest of the accused and the launch of an investigation.

According to the complaint, the alleged misconduct occurred on March 26 when the woman booked a Rapido bike from BTM Layout to Indiranagar. The harassment reportedly took place near her PG accommodation in Indiranagar.

The woman claimed that the rider repeatedly touched her inappropriately despite her objections and continued to misbehave throughout the journey. She managed to record parts of the incident on her phone and alerted her friends during the ride. Her friends later confronted the rider and assisted her in approaching the police.

The accused has been identified as Mohammed Khizar. Police confirmed that the rider’s alleged misconduct prompted the woman to file a molestation complaint.

An FIR was registered at the Indiranagar police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is ongoing.

Rapido condemns behaviour, suspends rider

Rapido responded to the incident by condemning the rider’s behaviour and disbarring him from the platform.

A company spokesperson stated, "Rapido unequivocally condemns the incident reported in Bengaluru. The behaviour described is unacceptable and has no place on our platform. The individual involved has been immediately disbarred, and we are extending our full cooperation to the authorities as the investigation progresses."

The spokesperson further reiterated the company’s safety standards, noting that all captains undergo thorough onboarding processes, including background verification, KYC checks, and comprehensive training on conduct and passenger safety.

"This is a clear case of individual misconduct and does not reflect the standards we expect from our captain community. We remain committed to swift and decisive action in all such instances," the statement added.

Previous incidents in Bengaluru

The incident comes months after another Rapido rider in Bengaluru was arrested and charged with allegedly attempting to grab a woman passenger’s legs during a ride. In that case as well, the woman had recorded a video of the act and approached the police.

Authorities and the company pointed out that safety measures are a priority and any violation of conduct will be addressed promptly.