Rapido bike taxi rider slaps girl in Bengaluru. What went unsuitable?

Simply days earlier than the Karnataka HC introduced a whole ban on bike taxis, a troubling incident in Bengaluru’s Jayanagar stirred recent public concern.

A video exhibiting a Rapido bike‑taxi driver allegedly slapping a feminine passenger throughout a heated dispute as she questioned his rash driving has gone viral, prompting outrage and renewed debate over security, regulation, and accountability on two-wheeler apps.

Jayanagar police have taken cognisance of the incident and confirmed that an investigation is underway.

What occurred?

On June 14, a routine bike-taxi experience in Bengaluru’s Jayanagar took a disturbing flip when a girl accused her Rapido driver of reckless driving and leaping visitors alerts.

The confrontation reportedly escalated rapidly. Based on police sources cited by India In the present day, the rider and passenger received right into a heated argument, which quickly turned bodily.

A video, filmed by a passerby, exhibits the Rapido driver slapping the girl laborious sufficient to knock her to the bottom. A number of persons are seen standing close by because the incident unfolds, however nobody instantly intervenes.

Initially, the girl was hesitant to report the assault, however police later confirmed she was persuaded to file a proper grievance.

An NCR (Non-Cognizable Report) was registered. Nevertheless, with the video now broadly shared on social media, officers are reportedly contemplating changing it right into a full-fledged FIR.

The incident is at present being investigated by the Jayanagar Police Station, beneath whose jurisdiction the world falls.

BENGALURU: Rapido bike rider slaps buyer as she allegedly questions him over rash driving and leaping sign. Incident occurred on June 14th in Jayanagar space of Bengaluru.
Jayanagar police are trying into the case.
INPUT: @Harishup pic.twitter.com/j8IbpvItT0

— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) June 16, 2025

In the meantime, the driving force—recognized as Suhas—shared his model of occasions with India In the present day. He claimed the girl was impolite from the start and that he had solely taken a shortcut by Jayanagar to avoid wasting her time.

“She saved questioning me, asking what I had studied and whether or not I even knew how you can drive,” he stated.

Based on Suhas, a automobile blocked their method unexpectedly, and he stopped about 100 metres from her workplace. That’s when she allegedly started shouting and demanded to know the fare. “I instructed her it was Rs 77,” he stated. “She raised her voice and hit me with a tiffin field. I held my persistence as a lot as I might.”

“I do know we shouldn’t hit girls,” he continued. “However after she hit me twice and shouted, I hit her as soon as.”

Suhas additionally admitted to telling her to “return to your state,” explaining that he doesn’t converse English properly. He added that he tried to clarify the state of affairs to the shop supervisor close by, however couldn’t discover them. “I defined to whoever was there that she raised her hand at me first,” he stated.

Why has Karnataka banned bike taxis?

The viral video of the alleged assault emerged simply days earlier than the Karnataka Excessive Courtroom refused to remain a earlier directive halting bike‑taxi providers, main the state authorities to implement a whole ban.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy made it clear that utilizing privately registered two‑wheelers for industrial functions is against the law. He emphasised that the Excessive Courtroom discovered bike taxis have been working with out the mandatory licences or regulatory approvals.

Rapido, one of many main ride-hailing platforms providing bike taxi providers within the metropolis, has since responded to the directive. The corporate introduced that it has “paused” its bike taxi operations and launched a alternative service referred to as ‘Bike Parcel’.

In an official assertion, Rapido stated: “Beginning June 16, 2025, our bike taxi providers in Karnataka will likely be paused in compliance with current Excessive Courtroom orders. Whereas we deeply consider within the worth bike taxis deliver to every day commuters, we respect the regulation and can totally abide by the directive.”

“We stay dedicated to the communities we serve and are longing for a future the place handy, reasonably priced mobility is accessible to all. We’re navigating the way in which ahead with the federal government to deliver your favorite bike taxis again on the street quickly,” it added.

Curiously, whereas Rapido has taken its bike taxis off the streets, different main gamers resembling Uber and Ola have been nonetheless exhibiting bike taxi choices on their apps as of Monday morning, though the ready occasions have been considerably longer than regular.

Reddy has warned that the federal government will take strict motion towards any aggregator that fails to adjust to the ban, efficient from June 16.

Forward of the ban, the Namma Bike Taxi Affiliation had written to CM Siddaramaiah and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, urging them to intervene and cease the transfer, warning that it will adversely have an effect on hundreds of gig employees throughout the state.

Many commuters additionally really feel the choice is a step backwards. They argue that bike taxis have turn out to be an important a part of Bengaluru’s every day commute, particularly with regards to reasonably priced and fast first-and-last-mile connectivity amid the town’s visitors and patchy public transport.

With enter from businesses