Kochi: A Bangalore-based woman had a bitter travelling experience in the city when she was allegedly verbally abused and slapped on face by an online cab driver following an argument over payment on Tuesday night. Aveta Thampatty, a native of Mavelikkara and currently residing in Bangalore, hired an Ola cab to travel from Lulu Mall to Panampilly Nagar at 8.45 pm. Once she reached her destination, the driver asked her to pay in cash.
"He wanted me to pay Rs 247 in cash. Since I did not have that much cash with me, I was planning to pay using e-wallet (Ola Money). So I asked him to change the payment mode or get in touch with Ola support team," Aveta, who is on a short visit to the city, told DC. "I asked him to end the trip as it was getting late but he refused to heed to the request. The guy went on talking and then used some bad words in Malayalam. When I tried to take a video of him verbally abusing me, he slapped my face…Well, Kerala is very unsafe to travel," she said. Aveta works as a digital marketing manager of a reputed brand.
She then lodged a complaint with the Ernakulam South station on Wednesday morning following which a case under section 354 IPC (assault or criminal force against woman with intent to outrage her modesty) was slapped on the accused driver K.B. Vinu. Aveta also turned to social media to share her "helpless situation" and her post soon went viral. Ola Cabs, on its part, issued an apology and said that the driver concerned has been fired from the job.
