Journalist alleges Rapido driver attacked him with rod after dispute: 'Asked him to keep hands on wheel'

According to the journalist, the confrontation began when he asked the driver to stop speaking on the phone. (Image: @ShoaibDaniyal/X)

A journalist alleged that he was attacked with a metal rod by a Rapido cab driver following an argument related to driving safety during a ride. The incident was shared online through a video and a detailed account by the journalist.

The exact location of the alleged assault was not specified. However, the vehicle seen in the video appeared to carry a registration number from Faridabad, Haryana, News18 reported.

According to the journalist, the confrontation began when he asked the driver to stop speaking on the phone and use both hands while driving. He stated that the request was made purely in the interest of passenger safety.

He further claimed that before this exchange, the driver had narrowly avoided colliding with a motorcycle. Shortly after the safety request, the situation escalated, culminating in what the journalist described as a physical attack.

Rapido driver assault with rod.

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Reason: I asked him to stop holding his phone to his ear in a call and put both hands on steering wheel. Before this he'd already nearly hit a motorcycle. The real shocking thing is that no response from @rapidobikeapp for two days. It seems he… pic.twitter.com/1WKXDElgzz — shoaib daniyal (@ShoaibDaniyal) December 17, 2025

The video shared online showed a tense roadside scene. A man, identified by the journalist as the Rapido driver, was seen approaching the person filming while holding a rod. Voices of onlookers were audible in the background.

One bystander could be heard asking, “Kiski gaadi lagi hai? (Whose vehicle has been hit?)". Another voice followed with, “Gaadi mein baith aur gaadi aage kar (Sit in the car and move it forward)."

The exchange suggested that the vehicle had come to a halt in the middle of the road, leading to a disruption in traffic. The driver was later seen returning to the car.

At another point in the footage, a man questioned the driver’s actions, saying, “Maar kyu raha hai usko? Tere paise mil jayenge kya? (Why are you hitting him? Will you get money for this?)" . The driver was again seen holding the rod before people nearby urged him to clear the road. The clip ended with the car leaving the scene.

Sharing the video, the journalist wrote: “Rapido driver assaulted with rod. Reason: I asked him to stop holding his phone to his ear in a call and put both hands on the steering wheel. Before this he’d already nearly hit a motorcycle.”

He also raised concerns over the company’s response, stating: “The real shocking thing is that there has been no response from Rapido for two days. It seems he is still on their platform. Be careful while taking Rapido please. It’s a tiny bit cheaper than Uber but you might be risking your safety.”

The post triggered widespread reactions online, with users expressing anger and concern over passenger safety.

One user commented, “He has a rod ready!”

Another wrote, “Stopped using Rapido after a similar experience.”

A third user observed, “Good lord! Frightening rage.”

Another comment read, “My female friend also faced the same kind of incident. Such a same.”

At the time of writing, there was no confirmation on whether any disciplinary action had been taken against the driver, and no official statement from Rapido addressing the allegation had been made public.

One user wrote: “Stopped using Rapido after a similar experience."

Meanwhile, a statement was issued by Rapido and the spokesperson confirmed that the incident took place in Faridabad.

"We deeply regret the incident reported from Faridabad involving the alleged assault of a passenger. Any form of violence, misconduct, or aggressive behaviour is completely unacceptable and has no place on the Rapido platform. Following internal verification, the individual has been permanently blacklisted and removed from our platform," the spokesperson said.

"We are in direct contact with the affected customer and are fully cooperating with the police and local authorities to support their investigation," read the statement further.

"Passenger safety is fundamental to how Rapido operates. All captains undergo mandatory background verification and onboarding checks, supported by behaviour monitoring, real-time ride tracking, and a 24/7 Emergency Response Team. Safety features such as in-app SOS, call masking, and late-night ride confirmations are built to provide immediate assistance to riders whenever required."

"As a platform operating at significant scale, we recognise our responsibility to continuously strengthen our systems, uphold the highest safety standards, and remain fully transparent with riders and authorities," the spokesperson added.