The autorickshaw driver who recently drew widespread attention for allegedly earning between Rs 5 to 8 lakh per month by offering an unofficial "bag holding" service to US consulate visitors in Mumbai has come under police scrutiny. Authorities have now halted his operations over security and legal concerns.
The incident came to light after Rahul Rupani, co-founder of VenueMonk, shared his experience on LinkedIn last week. According to Rupani, during his visa appointment at the US consulate in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), he was denied entry with his bag and was left uncertain about where to keep it. At that moment, an autorickshaw driver stationed nearby approached him with an unusual offer.
“Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai,” the driver reportedly said, suggesting it was a daily routine for him. Though initially hesitant, Rupani agreed to pay Rs 1,000 to have his bag safely held. He later praised the driver’s entrepreneurial instinct, calling it a "brilliant business" model in his now-viral LinkedIn post. He also claimed the driver was earning Rs 5–8 lakh a month from the service, a statement that sparked widespread interest and debate online.
The post caught the attention of RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka, who lauded the driver’s resourcefulness, calling it “pure Indian jugaad” in a repost. However, the claims about the driver’s alleged earnings have since been dismissed by authorities.
In the aftermath of the viral post, the Mumbai Police summoned the autorickshaw driver and 12 others allegedly offering similar services outside the consulate. A senior officer from BKC police station informed Hindustan Times that the area has strict parking restrictions due to its status as a high-security zone. Autorickshaws are only permitted to drop off passengers and must leave immediately thereafter.
“The auto driver has a licence to transport passengers, not to run a locker service. Therefore, we inquired into the matter and he has now stopped providing lockers,” police told Free Press Journal.
Officials raised concerns about the unauthorised nature of the makeshift locker service, particularly the absence of any legal or regulatory oversight. The drivers had been holding bags either within their vehicles or allegedly placing them in nearby commercial shops, none of which had permission to store visitors’ belongings. Authorities pointed out that misplaced or unverified items in such arrangements could pose significant security threats.
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