Bengaluru Cab Driver Extorts 18-Year-Old Over Fare, Victim Allegedly Left In Lurch by Cops

In a disturbing incident that highlights worries over passenger safety in Bengaluru, an 18-year-old lad was harassed and extorted by a cab driver after booking an airport taxi from Kempegowda International Airport to his paying guest accommodation in Yelahanka.

Bengaluru Police have yet to address the situation, while airport officials have recognised the event and promised an internal investigation.

Photo Credit: PTI

Here's what transpired:

The ordeal unfolded around 2 AM on Saturday when the teenager, unable to secure a ride through app-based services like Ola, Uber, or Rapido, opted for an airport taxi instead. The driver initially agreed to the fare shown on the Rapido app-roughly ₹800-but shortly after setting off, the situation took a sinister twist.

According to the victim's sibling, Mrinali Priyadarshini, who recounted the distressing episode on social media, the driver first asked if the teenager was from the area and then deliberately took a longer route. Abruptly, in an isolated spot, the driver halted the car, got out, and started intimidating the passenger, demanding ₹3,000 instead of the agreed fare.

"If you don't pay, I will take you to my friends, and you'll see what happens then," the driver reportedly threatened, as per the victim's sibling. The terrified teenager, stranded and alone, refused to give in and insisted he shouldn't have to pay more. Spotting two nearby police patrol officers, he desperately sought their help, but their reaction was anything but comforting.

Rather than stepping in, the officers simply remarked that the driver couldn't overcharge and advised the victim to go with the driver to a police station to sort it out, claimed Mrinali. Fearing for his safety, the teenager begged to travel with the police instead, but the officers departed, leaving him at the mercy of his aggressor.

With no aid from the authorities, the victim was left with little choice but to hand over the extorted ₹3,000. The driver then dropped him off at his destination. Though physically unharmed, the teenager remains profoundly rattled by the experience, according to the LinkedIn post that gained widespread attention.

Bengaluru City Police have not yet responded to the incident, despite growing public anger. Meanwhile, Kempegowda International Airport authorities have acknowledged the matter and assured they are investigating to bolster future passenger safety.

Online users are demanding swift action against the driver and tougher measures to ensure such incidents don't recur.