Kalyan, Mumbai – A 19-year-old Rapido bike taxi driver has been arrested in Kalyan, near Mumbai, following allegations of molestation and attempted robbery of a 26-year-old female passenger on Saturday evening. The accused, identified as Siddhesh Pardeshi, allegedly diverted from the designated route and took the woman to a deserted area where the assault occurred.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the woman booked a Rapido ride around 7 PM to travel to her gym near Kalyan railway station. However, instead of heading towards her destination, Pardeshi allegedly veered off course towards a dark and isolated stretch near the Syndicate area. When the woman objected, Pardeshi stopped the scooter, grabbed her hand, and behaved indecently, causing her severe mental distress and humiliation. He then allegedly snatched her purse and stole ₹1,000. Some reports indicate the accused also attempted to steal her necklace and threw sand in her face.
The woman cried out for help, attracting the attention of local residents who rushed to her aid. The residents apprehended Pardeshi and, according to witnesses, thrashed him before handing him over to the Mahatma Phule police. Police have confirmed the recovery of a knife from the accused. The incident has been captured in videos shared by news outlets, showing residents confronting and assaulting the Rapido driver. The woman is also seen in the video kicking the accused.
Senior Police Inspector Baliram Pardeshi of Mahatma Phule police station stated that Siddhesh is a Class VII dropout from the Khadakpada area of Kalyan and had been working with Rapido for the past month and a half. The police are investigating whether Pardeshi has been involved in similar incidents and are working with Rapido to verify his background and ride history.
Following his arrest, Pardeshi was presented before a holiday court and has been remanded to police custody until December 18. He has been booked under sections 309(6), 74 and 324(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The incident has sparked concerns about passenger safety, particularly for women using app-based transport services. The police have urged passengers to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious behavior.
Maharashtra State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has called for an urgent meeting of the Motor Transport Department on December 17 to discuss the matter. The meeting will focus on the operations of app-based companies like Rapido, Ola, and Uber, and whether the temporary permissions granted to them should be withdrawn due to alleged illegal operations. The incident also highlights the ongoing legal issues surrounding Rapido's unlicensed operations, with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) having penalized 47 riders.
