Bengaluru: Ola cab driver held for allegedly assaulting passenger, forcing her to strip for photos

The Bengaluru Police on Tuesday arrested an Ola cab driver for allegedly assaulting a passenger and forcing her to strip for photographs. The driver, identified as Arun V, also shared these photos on WhatsApp.

The complainant, a 26-year-old, was heading to the Kepegowda airport to catch an early morning flight to Mumbai on June 1. She said in her police complaint that the driver took a different route just before the airport’s toll gate, claiming that it would take her to her destination faster. He then parked the vehicle at a deserted spot and sexually assaulted her, NDTV reported.

The woman said the driver also snatched away her phone and threatened to have her gang-raped if she told her friends about the incident. He then forced her to strip and clicked photographs, which he shared on WhatsApp.

The complainant said she pleaded with the accused to let her go, promising that she would not tell anyone about the incident. The accused finally dropped her off at the airport, threatening her that he would release her photos on social media if she complained to the police. The woman later emailed a complaint to the police.

“Based on a mail from the woman, we have registered a first information report,” Seemant Kumar Singh, a senior officer of the Bengaluru Police, said.

The police arrested the driver within three hours of the FIR being registered. “We have issued a notice to Ola Cabs asking why the police verification of this driver was not done,” Singh added.

In a statement, Ola Cabs said Arun V had been blacklisted, ANI reported. “We regret the unfortunate experience the customer had,” a spokesperson for the ride-sharing service said. “We have zero tolerance for such incidents and the driver has been blacklisted. Safety of customers is our top priority. We’re extending full support to the police in the inquiry.”