Ola driver unzips pants and flashes at lone woman passenger in Mumbai

Yet again app-based cab service provider Ola is in the news and for the same reason, sexual harassment. This time the victim is a 30-year-old woman who has accused the driver of an Ola cab of flashing. She hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad and was in the city for an interview police said on Wednesday.

She had booked a shared Ola cab from Andheri to Parel and there were other passengers in the cab when she got in. She was alone in the cab when it reached SK Bole Marg at Shivaji Park, the woman said in her complaint.

She was busy on her phone when the car suddenly stopped. When she looked at the driver’s seat she saw the driver opening the zip of his pant and flashing she alleged.

“Shocked, the woman immediately got off the taxi and ran as far as she could. The woman then asked a passerby the address of the nearest police station and went to the Shivaji Park police station,” said Rajiv Jain, deputy commissioner of police (zone V).

Jain said the police have registered an offence under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code against the driver for purportedly outraging the modesty of the woman. He said efforts are on to trace the culprit.

“We have identified the driver with the help of the registration number and his mobile number that the woman had when she booked the taxi. We will arrest him soon,” Jain said.

When contacted, an Ola spokesperson refused to comment on the issue.