Bengaluru Auto Driver Who Slapped Student Claims He Only Grabbed Phone: Explains His Side Of The Story

Muthuraj, the Bengaluru auto driver arrested last week for abusing a woman passenger, was released from police custody on Saturday. Muthuraj contends that he did not slap the woman but rather grabbed her phone to prevent her from calling the police.

In an interview with the YouTube channel Auto Ratha Saradhi, Muthuraj said, "I acknowledge that grabbing her phone was a mistake, but I did not slap her as claimed in the video. My intention was to stop her from calling the authorities. The incident happened in a moment of impulse."

Muthuraj also revealed that he has been banned from all aggregator apps like Ola and Uber and has received threatening calls since the incident. "After the incident, all aggregator apps blocked my account, and I received threats from unknown callers. Although I regret my actions and am facing legal issues, people should understand the challenges auto drivers face, particularly when they fail to meet their daily targets," he explained.

He expressed gratitude to those who have helped cover his legal expenses. "I am thankful to those who provided financial support during this time. As an ordinary person unfamiliar with legal processes, I am seeking assistance from auto unions to navigate this situation," he added.

The incident in question involved a woman who alleged that Muthuraj slapped her after she canceled a ride. She also posted a video showing him verbally abusing her for booking two autos and canceling one. According to one woman's claim, he grabbed her phone and slapped her after she made him wait and subsequently canceled the ride due to a change in plans. Muthuraj was arrested by Bengaluru police on the same day. Following the complaint, Bengaluru police promptly arrested Muthuraj and advised the public to call 112 in similar situations.