A cab driver in Delhi has been arrested following a complaint by a Delhi University (DU) student who alleged he masturbated while driving. The incident occurred in the Maurice Nagar area.

According to the Delhi Police, the accused has been identified as Lom Shankar. An FIR has been registered against Shankar, and his cab has been seized. The police took action based on the student's complaint of obscene acts.

This is not an isolated incident. In February 2020, an Uber driver was arrested in Gurugram for a similar offense against a DU student. In that case, the student reported that the driver began masturbating while driving her to the Huda City Centre metro station. The driver in the 2020 incident, identified as Manoj Kumar, was later released on bail.

In September 2022, another cab driver in Delhi was arrested for allegedly masturbating in front of a woman lawyer from the UK. The incident occurred while he was transporting her to a hotel in South Delhi. The driver was arrested but later released on bail, and the complainant left the country shortly after filing the complaint.

These incidents highlight the safety concerns that female passengers can face when using ride-sharing services and taxis. While app-based cab services often offer features like ride tracking and emergency assistance buttons, these may not always be enough to prevent harassment and assault.

There have been other cases involving the safety of students in cabs. In 2014, a school cab driver in Delhi was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a 5-year-old student. In October 2024, a DU student from Manipur accused a cab driver of attempting to rape her and criticized the Delhi Police for their handling of the case, alleging that the driver was given an "easy path to bail".

The recent arrest of Lom Shankar underscores the need for continued vigilance and stricter measures to ensure passenger safety in taxis and ride-sharing services. It also highlights the importance of victims reporting such incidents to the police so that appropriate action can be taken.