BENGALURU — Ride-hailing platform Rapido sacked a Karnataka bike-taxi driver following public outrage over a recorded phone call in which the captain allegedly solicited sex from a woman booking a ride.
Platform executives confirmed the driver's immediate termination after the passenger published a video recording of the exchange on social media. The audio swiftly gained traction online. It provoked sharp pushback over commuter safety.
The call came during a routine pickup inquiry. The passenger noticed the driver moving away on the tracking map and dialled him directly to confirm his arrival. Instead of offering transit directions, the captain asked in the local language whether sex was available.
The passenger pushed back immediately.
"Shouldn't you call when you arrive? If you leave without calling, how is that supposed to work?" she asked during the recorded exchange.
The driver later contacted the passenger directly and tendered an apology. But the fallout had already begun.
Rapido moved to detach the accused driver from its digital fleet once the recording surfaced publicly. Platform administrators said internal teams reviewed the incident and severed the captain's account access without delay.
We understand how distressing and unsettling such an experience can be, and sincerely regret that the passenger had to go through this. The safety, dignity and comfort of our passengers, especially women, are of utmost importance to us. We have zero tolerance for any form of misconduct, and any captain found violating our standards of conduct will face strict action.
Rapido Official Statement
| Incident Parameter | Official Status |
|---|---|
| Platform Involved | Rapido Bike Taxi |
| Jurisdiction | Karnataka |
| Nature of Complaint | Sexually explicit solicitation over ride coordination call |
| Immediate Action Taken | Driver removed from platform with immediate effect |
| Platform Policy Invoked | Zero tolerance for passenger misconduct |
Rapido stated it will review communication safeguards on its platform to reinforce passenger protection protocols across Karnataka.