Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have registered a case against a Rapido bike taxi rider for allegedly attempting to touch a woman passenger inappropriately during a ride in the city. The woman, who recorded part of the incident on video, later lodged a complaint with the Wilson Garden Police.

According to police, the incident took place around 4 pm on Thursday while the woman was travelling from Church Street to her paying guest (PG) accommodation. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed, and an investigation is underway. 

In an Instagram post detailing her ordeal, the woman wrote, “While returning to my PG from Church Street on a Rapido ride, the captain tried to grab my legs while riding. It happened so suddenly that I couldn’t even process it, let alone record it. When he did it again, I told him, “Bhaiya, kya kar rahe ho, mat karo,” (What are you doing? Don’t do this) but he didn’t stop.

She said she felt too unsafe to ask him to pull over, as she was unfamiliar with the area. “I was terrified — I couldn’t ask him to stop the bike because I’m new to this place and didn’t know where I was. By the time we reached my destination, I was shivering and in tears,” she added.

Upon reaching her destination, a bystander reportedly noticed her distress and confronted the rider, who apologised before leaving but allegedly made a threatening gesture as he departed, making her feel even more unsafe.

The woman said the experience left her shaken and prompted her to speak out. “no woman should have to go through something like this — not in a cab, not on a bike, not anywhere,” she wrote. “This is not the first time something similar has happened to me. but today i just couldn't stay silent because of how unsafe i felt”. 

Rapido expressed concern about the driver’s “inappropriate conduct” and promising a detailed investigation and suitable action to follow.

Bengaluru City Police responded to her post, requesting that she share the ride details and location to aid the investigation.