Bengaluru woman accuses Rapido driver of sexual harassment: 'I was mortified'

The Bengaluru woman went on to say that after leaving the petrol pump, the driver rubbed his feet with hers, which led to her praying and wishing to reach home as soon as possible. (Representational Image).

A Bengaluru woman accused a Rapido bike driver of sexually harassing her and making unwarranted advances at her during a ride in the city. In a Reddit post, the woman, who had booked the bike on Saturday to travel from Tin Factory to Koramangala at around 8:30 pm, wrote that the driver started talking to her during the ride before things went downhill.

"So, this happened yesterday when I was traveling from Tin factory to Koramangala. I booked a Rapido bike at 8:30 pm. Initially he said his phone battery is dead so he needs my phone to be kept in that stand and see maps. I gave. Later he asked about where I am from, where is my family etc. a lot of drivers are chatty so I simply was replying," she wrote.

The woman said that the driver touched her inappropriately when they had stopped at a petrol pump while taking the key from the vehicle's backseat.

"After that, we stopped at a petrol pump for refill and after me sitting he remembered that his key is there. Below backseat. He felt cross my thighs twice just to fetch that key. I was horrified. I said bhaiyya you could have simply asked for the key to me. Later on, after sometime."

"He sat over my inner things closely sticking his backside to my crotch. And he was pressing it time to time so hard, that it pained. I was horrified what is just happening. I was so scared. I couldn't even ask him what he is doing. It went for around 20 mins till we reached a crowded area. I was mortified," she wrote.

The woman went on to say that after leaving the petrol pump, the driver rubbed his feet with hers, which led to her praying and wishing to reach home as soon as possible.

"Later on when we came near Ejipura and traffic was there in the inner lanes he had the audacity to rub his feet with mine. In my mind I was simply saying prayers because I knew it is just 3 km more now and I'm home. Finally when I asked him to give my phone back and told him to stop. The ordeal stopped after 7-8 minutes as I reached near my place and immediately got down," the woman wrote.

The woman complained to Rapido customer care, who said that they would look into the incident and take serious action against the rider. The customer care officials also told her that they would cross verify with the rider, much to her shock.

She further said that Rapido had informed her that the driver had been suspended, but refused to share evidence about the same.

The post saw a lot of user comments, some of whom felt that bike taxis were unsafe for women and suggested taking an auto over a bike to travel from one place to another.

"Women driver should be empanelled with Rapido and women can be allotted those drivers. I always discourage women for taking Rapido driven by men. It's not safe all the time and there is risk. Better to avoid it," one user wrote.

"Bike taxis are definitely not women friendly unless it's a woman driver , as chances of close contact is high , as there is no barrier between driver and passenger. A driver could intentionally put on brake suddenly to make you fall on you But still, you have your rights. The Rapido guy took the advantage of you being a woman n your vulnerability as a pillion rider. Approach your local police station and file a sexual harassment complaint," another user wrote.

Also read: Rapido driver masturbated during ride, sent ‘love you’ messages afterwards: Bengaluru woman