Viral Video: Rapido Auto Driver In Bengaluru Accused Of Trying To Steal From Woman

A routine commute turned into a shocking encounter for Bengaluru woman Janhavi Kshatriyas, who caught a Rapido auto driver red-handed allegedly attempting to steal money from her handbag. The incident, which took place on the evening of June 11 during a ride from Marathahalli to JP Nagar, has gone viral after Janhavi posted a video of the confrontation on Instagram.

In her detailed post, Janhavi explained that the trouble began when she noticed the driver repeatedly staring at her through the rearview mirror in an unsettling manner. Feeling uncomfortable and wary that her phone battery was running low, she messaged a friend via Snapchat to share her location and concern.

As a precaution, she asked the driver to let her pay the fare before her phone died, which he agreed to. He also offered to charge her phone and briefly held it-something she now says she regrets. Just about one kilometre before reaching home, Janhavi received a call from her mother asking her to pick up coffee powder. She requested the driver to stop near a shop. But when she returned minutes later, she witnessed the most alarming moment of the ride.

"I caught the driver red-handed trying to unzip the front compartment of my handbag. The money was stuck in the zip, and he was trying to pull it out. He didn't know I was standing right behind him, watching everything," she wrote.

On being confronted, the driver nervously claimed he was trying to move the bag to a safer place and even attempted to blame a random passerby, alleging that she was the one who tried to steal. Janhavi clarified the situation to the bystander, recorded the driver's reaction on video, noted down his auto number, and promptly reported the incident to Rapido.

Urging others to stay vigilant, she wrote, "Please be careful, especially if you're commuting late or alone."

The video has garnered nearly 2.3 million views on Instagram, sparking widespread discussion. One user praised her courage: "I appreciate her guts to talk so boldly in front of everyone. If she had spoken Hindi, this would have turned into a Kannadiga vs North Indian issue." Another commented, "This is one of the best videos which addressed a serious issue in a proper manner."

Disclaimer: The above information is sourced from a third party. India TV does not verify the authenticity of the claims made.