Bengaluru, Jun 16 (PTI) A Rapido bike taxi rider was caught on camera for allegedly slapping a woman passenger following an argument between them over rash driving, police said on Monday.
The incident occurred on June 13 when the woman, who works as a saleswoman at a jewellery shop in Jayanagar, was en route to her workplace, they said.
Owing to his alleged rash driving, she got off mid-ride and confronted him, leading to a heated argument between them. The woman reportedly also refused to pay the fare and return the helmet, police said.
When contacted, Rapido preferred not to comment on the matter, citing it as a police case.
A video of the incident that has now gone viral on social media platforms showed the biker slapping the woman. The impact of the assault was such that she fell on the ground.
According to the police, when the matter came to light, both the woman and the rider were brought to Jayanagar police station.
The woman claimed that the rider was driving rashly and jumped signals. When she questioned him, an argument broke out between them and he slapped her, a senior police officer said.
Despite persuading the woman, she initially refused to give a complaint. However, police filed a Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) in the matter. Later, a notice was also sent to her to give a complaint, so that an FIR can be registered and further investigation can be carried out, he said.
Based on the complaint lodged by the woman, a case was registered against the accused bike taxi rider on Monday under sections 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, said Lokesh B Jagalasar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).
"On 13th of this month at 10 am, there was an argument and altercation. It was followed by the slapping of a woman by a Rapido driver. On asking the woman to register an FIR that day at Jayanagar police station, she refused to do so. However, today she has come forward to register a case in this regard.
The facts of the case are such that on 13th morning, the woman had objected to the unsafe riding of the driver, following which an altercation had ensued. He slapped her. Regarding this, the investigation is underway and the accused is being questioned and legal action will be taken as per law," he said in a video statement.