Bengaluru: An Ola cab driver was arrested by the city police for molesting, disrobing and trying to sexually assault a 24-year-old woman in his car on the way to the Kempegowda International Airport on June 1.
The police said that the accused driver, Arun V. (31), was picked up three hours after the victim filed a police complaint on Monday. The victim alleged that she hired an Ola cab from Kodihalli to the airport around 11 pm on Friday. On the pretext of taking a shortcut, the driver took the cab to an isolated spot in Doddajala. He then locked the car doors and demanded that she disrobe. He then molested her and started to force himself upon her. When she resisted and raised an alarm, he tried to strangle her. The driver then clicked victim’s pictures and threatened her that he would post the photos on social media if she told anyone about the incident. The driver then dropped her at the airport.
The woman took her flight to Mumbai where she informed her father about the incident over phone. She then wrote an email complaint to the city police commissioner who directed the Jeevan Bimanagar police to register a case. The police arrested Arun and he will be in police custody until they record the statement from the victim who has to identify him, a senior police officer said.
An Ola spokesperson said, “We regret the unfortunate experience the customer had during the ride. We have zero tolerance for such incidents and the driver has been blacklisted from the platform as an immediate action upon receiving the complaint. Safety of customers is our top priority and we are extending our full support to the police authorities in their investigation.”
Further the spokesperson said, “The driver-partner in question holds a valid police verification check that confirms no criminal cases have been filed against him. This is a mandatory process for all driver-partners who operate on our platform."
