Delhi: Uber 'driver' locks woman inside cab, sexually harasses her
A 29-year-old Delhi woman got the shock of her life when she was allegedly locked inside her Uber cab and sexually harassed by the driver. When she wanted to escape, the man locked the car centrally and threatened to harm her more. However, using her presence of mind, she managed to escape. The man, not a registered Uber driver, has been arrested.
The cab had tinted glass, white number plate
The Rohini-based woman, who works as an advisor at a Sonepat MNC, said she usually drives to her office, but on March 9, she planned to take a cab. Around 7 PM, she hailed a cab. The Swift car that arrived did not have the yellow commercial number plate, and also had tinted glasses. She sensed something fishy but boarded the cab anyway.
Driver took secluded route, she tried to jump, locked car
Her suspicion grew when the driver took a secluded route in Narela instead of the usual one. When she heard him telling someone about plans to get drunk, she immediately checked the driver details on her app, which didn't match. She panicked and "tried to jump out of the car near Mukarba Chowk, but he activated the central locking system," said Aslam Khan, DCP.
He threatened to harm her, passed sexual remarks
"The driver then threatened to harm the woman and passed sexual remarks. She screamed for help, but was unable to draw anyone's attention," said Khan. Around 9 PM, she took the chance again near a CNG pump in Jahangirpuri and succeeded. "The woman quickly dialed the police control room number even as the driver escaped with the car," said the officer.
The accused was sleeping inside the same car, arrested
A case of sexual harassment, kidnapping, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation was registered and "simultaneously, we sought the cab details from Uber," said Khan. The same night, the man, identified as Sanjeev, was arrested from Janti Kalan village while he was sleeping inside the car. Uber, terming it as a case of "identity theft," has said it has removed the original registered driver.
