46-Year-Old Bengaluru Auto Driver Detained For Slapping, Verbally Abusing Woman For Cancelling Ola Ride

Bengaluru police have arrested 46-year-old R Muthuraj, an auto driver who verbally abused and slapped a female student at Magadi Road after she cancelled her autorickshaw ride. The altercation occurred when the student opted for a different auto, prompting the driver to become enraged. The confrontation, recorded by the student and widely shared on social media, shows the driver shouting at her before physically assaulting her.

In the viral video, the student is seen in another auto as the angry driver berates her for the cancellation. Despite her attempts to explain the situation, the driver escalates the argument, questioning her decision and demanding compensation for his fuel costs. When she threatens to report him to the police, he challenges her to do so. The situation deteriorates when he slaps her after she mentions having recorded his auto number and phone details.

The student and her friend had booked two autos through Ola during peak hours. The auto she initially booked arrived first, leading her friend to cancel her ride. The driver, infuriated by the cancellation, followed them and began verbally assaulting them. When the student began recording the incident, the driver's aggression intensified. He attempted to snatch her phone, and when she resisted, he slapped her in front of a passive bystander and the other auto driver.

Following the incident, the student tagged Ola on social media, demanding swift action. Ola responded, assuring that they would investigate the "alarming" incident. Additional Director General of Police Traffic and Road Safety, Alok Kumar, condemned the driver's behavior and assured that appropriate measures would be taken, stating that such actions unfairly damage the reputation of the auto driver community.