Haryana: Uber cab driver held for abducting, harassing woman
A 22-year-old Uber driver has been arrested for allegedly abducting and sexually harassing a woman after she boarded his cab in Haryana, the police said on Tuesday. According to a report, in a statement by the cab aggregator, Uber said they have initiated action against the errant driver and are cooperating with the police in the investigation. Here's more.
The cab was booked from Kundli in Haryana for Rohini
On 9 March, a 29-year-old woman, who works with an advisor in an MNC, booked an Uber cab from Kundli in Haryana for her residence in Rohini Sector-3, police said. However, when the cab arrived, she noticed that the vehicle had a white number plate instead of the commercial number plate and also had tinted glasses, the police said.
The driver allegedly made unwanted advances
The woman grew suspicious of the driver as his face did not match with the image of the driver provided by Uber on the app, said police. The driver, who was allegedly drunk, took the vehicle along a secluded route in Narela and not the one she usually used to take for her home. She alleged that the driver was making unwanted advances.
The woman jumped out of the car near GTK depot
When the woman tried to get out from the vehicle at a traffic signal, the driver locked the doors using the central lock and threatened her. When the car slowed down at a CNG station near GTK depot, she took the opportunity to unlock the door and jumped out of the car. The driver absconded from the spot with his vehicle, police said.
The cab was traced at Janti Kalan village in Sonipat
During the investigation, the details of the vehicles and drivers were obtained from Uber and the cab was traced to Janti Kalan village in Haryana's Sonipat. A police team visited the village on the intervening night of 9 and 10 March and traced the vehicle in which a man was found lying in a drunken state, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Aslam Khan said.
The driver didn't have a driving license
The man inside the cab was identified as Sanjeev, a resident of Gannaur, Haryana. He used to drive the vehicle even though he was not registered as the driver of it and did not have a driving license. Police said it was found that the man, who was registered with the Uber as the vehicle's driver, had given his car to Sanjeev to drive.
Investigators send a questionnaire to Uber regarding the case
The investigators are examining the other driver's culpability and have also sent a questionnaire to Uber in connection with the case. A reply is awaited, they said. An Uber spokesperson said they have removed the driver who allowed another man to drive his vehicle. The drivers in the present incident have violated the terms of the agreement that Uber signs with its driver-partners.
