Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has filed an FIR against the Rapido director for purportedly running bike taxi services unlawfully via its application. The FIR was filed at the Amboli police station following a complaint from the office of the Regional Transport Commissioner.
In the complaint, Harshal Sase, a Vehicle Supervision Officer at the Regional Transport Commissioner's Office stated, "The Rapido app was being used to operate illegal transport services in the city," according to reports. The app operators had not received authorization from the government to operate their vehicles in the city and were deceiving passengers.
As per the complaint, the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 mandated that the app secure approval from the relevant government department. Nevertheless, Rapido was unsuccessful in securing that permission. Driving vehicles without proper authorization renders individuals subject to legal consequences.
The complaint additionally highlighted significant issues related to passenger safety, claiming that Rapido did not perform background or character checks on its drivers. "The FIR stated that no background or character check of the drivers was performed, and appropriate safety measures were not implemented, endangering the safety of female passengers."
The case has been filed under sections 223 (disobedience of lawful orders from public servants), 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and applicable sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. The FIR was filed following a complaint made by Harshal Sose, 41, an inspector at the Andheri Mumbai West RTO.
Law enforcement has commenced legal proceedings regarding these infractions, underscoring the administration's position on unauthorized app-based transportation services.
Rapido Bike-Taxi Under Watch
State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik inquired about the status of bike taxis in Mumbai after police cases against illegal operations. He was told no bike taxis were active, yet he booked one using the Rapido app, which arrived swiftly at Shaheed Babu Genu Chowk.
Sarnaik caught the rider operating without government permission, offering him Rs 500 as fare while emphasizing the need to hold those responsible accountable. He highlighted that recent changes in e-bike policy require compliance for bike taxi services, while transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar invited public feedback on draft Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules 2025. Sarnaik reiterated the illegality of bike taxis on city roads and urged residents not to use these services. A government official questioned the lack of accountability for the transport department's misinformation.
