Pune Police File Case Against Rapido For Alleged Unauthorised Bike-Taxi Operations
Police in Pune have registered a case against Rapido, accusing the company of operating bike-taxi services without the necessary licenses and regulatory approvals.
Pune, India – Police in Pune have filed a case against Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Rapido, for allegedly operating bike-taxi services without required licenses and regulatory approvals. The FIR was registered at Vishrantwadi police station yesterday, alleging the company used its app to facilitate paid rides on two-wheelers registered as non-transport vehicles.
The operation came to light when Pune RTO motor vehicle inspector Prasad Govardhan Surwase booked a ride via the Rapido app during an enforcement drive. This action followed a directive from Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, who had ordered Rapido to suspend its bike-taxi operations immediately across Pune district until it obtained an e-bike taxi aggregator license. The company had previously received a notice.
Dudi's directives were issued after a meeting with representatives from auto-rickshaw and cab driver unions and aggregators. He warned that continued operations without a license would lead to legal action. Dudi also mandated that aggregators submit monthly fare data to the district administration and display approved fares separately, responding to complaints about violations of fare norms.
The FIR also cites Rapido's previous attempts to secure operating permits, including a license application rejection in December 2022 and subsequent legal challenges. Concerns have also been raised regarding inadequate driver background checks, impacting passenger safety.