Mumbai auto driver's viral fame kills his Rs 8 lakh/month 'side income'

In the aftermath of the viral post, the Mumbai Police summoned the autorickshaw driver and 12 others allegedly offering similar services outside the consulate.

An autorickshaw driver in Mumbai, who turned the US Consulate’s strict no-bag policy into a thriving business, has been forced to stop operations after police intervened over security concerns.

The driver, whose service went viral following a LinkedIn post by Lenskart’s product leader Rahul Rupani, had been charging Rs 1,000 per bag to store belongings for visa applicants denied entry with luggage.

With no official lockers nearby, the driver parked outside the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) consulate, offering a makeshift solution, reportedly earning between Rs 5 to Rs 8 lakh a month by handling 20–30 customers daily.

Mumbai Police summoned the driver and 12 others running similar operations, warning that the unauthorised service violated security protocols near the high-security diplomatic zone. A senior BKC police officer told Hindustan Times that parking and storing personal items in the area were strictly prohibited, emphasising the potential risks of unverified belongings being left unattended.

“None of them had permission to offer locker services or store items in nearby shops,” the officer said. Authorities have now halted the service and issued warnings against any revival of such businesses in the vicinity.

The driver’s venture had gained traction after Rupani’s post praised his efficiency, noting how he safely stored bags for a fee, turning a logistical headache for applicants into an unexpected income stream. But what began as a clever workaround has ended with police drawing a hard line on unofficial operations near sensitive government premises.