Pune police seek removal of Rapido app over licensing dispute
Authorities in Pune have requested that Google and Apple remove the Rapido app from their storefronts, citing unauthorized operations.
The Pune police department has formally requested that Google and Apple remove the Rapido application from their respective app stores. The move is part of an ongoing enforcement effort against the ride-hailing company, which authorities claim is operating motorcycle taxi services in the city without the necessary government permits.
The regulatory pressure intensified in October 2026 following a series of inspections by local transport officials. Police filed a first information report (FIR) against the firm’s parent company, Roppen Transportation Services, alleging offenses under the Motor Vehicles Act and the IT Act. While Rapido has submitted an application for an aggregator license, transport officials maintain that commercial operations remain illegal until that application is approved.
This is not the first time local authorities in Maharashtra have sought to curb aggregator operations. Similar actions in the past have been met with challenges, as previous shutdowns were reversed following intervention from central government levels. Because the platform bundles multiple transportation modes—including auto-rickshaws and cabs—a complete platform ban would significantly impact accessibility for commuters across the city.