A bike taxi rider was arrested in Kalyan area of Thane district in Maharashtra for allegedly molesting a 26-year-old woman passenger and stealing Rs 1,000 from her, police said on Monday.
The 19-year-old accused, a Class VII dropout, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the incident that took place on Saturday, said an official.
Diverted the scooter to a deserted place
According to police, the woman had booked a ride from the Chickenghar area to her gym near Kalyan railway station at around 7 pm. However, instead of taking her to the intended destination, the rider allegedly diverted the scooter to a deserted and poorly lit stretch near the police colony in the Syndicate area, reported the PTI.
When the woman objected, the accused reportedly stopped the scooter, grabbed her hand and behaved indecently. He also allegedly snatched her purse and took Rs 1,000 from it. The woman raised an alarm, following which local residents rushed to the spot, assaulted the rider and later handed him over to the police.
He has been remanded to police custody till December 18.
Rapido denies affiliation
Meanwhile, bike taxi operator Rapido has denied affiliation with the suspect.
An official statement, issued by Rapido on Monday, said, “We are aware of the extremely disturbing incident reported from Kalyan (Maharashtra) and appreciate the swift action taken by the police in apprehending the accused. The nature of the allegations is deeply concerning, and our thoughts remain with the victim and their family during this difficult time.”
“It is essential to clarify that the accused individual is not, and has never been, a Rapido Captain. His name was incorrectly linked to our brand in early reports. This individual applied to join Rapido, but we denied his onboarding because he utterly failed to meet our rigorous eligibility and verification standards. His rejection at the gate is a testament to the robust safeguards built into our system. As confirmed by the authorities, the complainant had booked a bike taxi ride on another platform on 13 December 2025,” the statement said.
It further said, “Rapido, as a law-abiding organisation, maintains a gold standard of safety across all operations. All captains registered on Rapido undergo rigorous onboarding protocols, including comprehensive background verification, strict KYC checks, mandatory training modules on conduct and safety, and immediate suspension upon receiving credible complaints.”
Safety standards in place: Rapido
“We have further strengthened our safeguards with post-10 pm safety check-ins for women riders, 24×7 in-app SOS support with rapid escalation, and continuous prompts encouraging riders to verify captain and vehicle details before every trip. Passenger safety, especially the safety and dignity of women, is of paramount importance to us,” the statement said said.
It further said, “We reiterate, with absolute clarity: the accused has no affiliation with Rapido and has never been part of our captain fleet. His earlier rejection underscores the importance of stringent compliance across the industry. We urge all mobility platforms to strengthen due diligence and ensure that only verified and compliant individuals are allowed to operate for public service. Rapido will extend full cooperation to law enforcement whenever required. As always, we remain committed to fostering a mobility ecosystem rooted in safety, accountability, and respect.”
