Bengaluru Auto Driver Suspended For Harassing And Demanding Extra Cash From Tech Employee

A Bengaluru resident recently shared a distressing experience with an Ola driver, leading to the driver's suspension and a refund from the company. The incident was detailed in a social media post where the user described being verbally abused by the auto driver, who demanded extra money for the ride.

Ola Driver's Aggressive Behaviour

Pawan Kumar, a tech professional, took to X to narrate his ordeal. He wrote, "I had a terrible experience today with an @Olacabs auto. I booked a ride from Brookfield to Koramangala with a stop at Mahadevapura. The app quoted ₹292, but when I reached my destination, the driver demanded ₹455. He insisted the app was wrong and threatened to hold me until I paid the higher amount. He became aggressive, shouting and using abusive language."

Kumar further explained that he called the police and recorded the incident. When officers arrived, they conversed with the driver in Kannada. The driver then claimed he was using the meter. The police asked Kumar to pay ₹350 instead of ₹455, citing the driver's financial situation and requested him to delete his recording.

Police Involvement and Public Reaction

The driver continued to threaten Kumar even in front of the police, stating he knew Kumar's office address and where he picked him up from. Despite this, the police let the driver go after Kumar complied with their request. "I'm deeply disappointed," Kumar added in his post. "Is this how things work? Drivers threatening passengers in front of the police, with no real action taken? Does not speaking Kannada mean I don't belong here? Also, Ola's support seems ineffective, as there is no support at all."

The post quickly gained traction online, amassing over 6,26,600 views and more than 4,500 likes. Ola responded by asking for Kumar's ride details via Direct Message to investigate promptly. The Bengaluru City Police also requested his contact information to address his complaint.

Company Response and Public Feedback

A few hours later, Kumar updated that the auto driver admitted his mistake and had been suspended by Ola. Additionally, he received a refund for the extra charges. However, he noted that Ola asked him to delete his posts about the incident but he chose not to comply.

The post attracted various reactions from users online. Some supported Kumar while others criticized him for escalating the issue over ₹150. One comment read: "You wanted to create all this mess for just another 150 rupees; you same people throw 500 at restaurants as tips but couldn't give another 150 for a poor auto driver and called the police."

Another user shared their own experience: "This happened to me in Rapido cab; even after arguing if drivers don't accept it, pay whatever they charge and get out of the situation. Then file a complaint on the app or call customer service. They give you a refund and that amount gets deducted from driver's end affecting their credibility."