On September 28, a Bengaluru auto driver refused to pick up a passenger, Lotha, who had booked a ride from HSR Layout to Koramangala, and the incident escalated after she cancelled the ride.
When Lotha declined to pay, the driver snatched her phone, assaulted her, and struck the friends who arrived to intervene, a video capturing the confrontation showing women striking the driver.
Police received the complaint at a nearby station and are investigating the case, also verifying claims that the passenger may have abused the driver. Lotha told NDTV that the parties have "sorted out" the matter.
The case is now under police scrutiny, with potential charges pending while authorities review the app‑based booking details.