Bengaluru doctor recalls harrowing experience after boarding fake OLA Cab

The driver has been arrested under BNS Section 319 (2) (cheating by personation). He was released on bail later. According to the doctor, she arrived in Delhi on November 7 at approximately 10 p.m. and waited at the pick-up point at Terminal 1 after reserving an OLA taxi.

According to the Deccan Herald, the accused allegedly approached her, introduced himself as an OLA driver, and asked her to get into the car to take her home to Hoskote. When Nikitha saw that he was driving a sedan instead of the mini-car she had reserved, her suspicions began to grow. Nevertheless, she boarded the cab as it was already late. Even when she urged the driver to authenticate the ride by entering the OTP on the OLA app, he never asked for one. He said it was because the software wasn't functioning properly.

The fare indicated in the app was Rs 1,300 and the doctor agreed to pay the amount reflected in the app. However, the driver insisted she pay Rs 1,500, stating that his vehicle was considered a luxury item. Refusing to pay extra, she requested that he return her to the pickup spot in Terminal 1, reports the Daily. The driver allegedly continued driving without responding, as stated in the FIR. A relative was contacted by the doctor who, in the meanwhile, narrated the scenario over the phone.

The driver stopped at a petrol station and asked the doctor to pay Rs 500. Following the relative's advice, the doctor contacted the police on 112, the emergency number, and described what transpired. The woman also gave the cops her home address.  

In an X post, the doctor shared her experience stating,'' almost got trafficked/raped/looted/assaulted by a random cab driver who was let in by @BLRAirport in the Ola pickup station & impersonated to be one at terminal 1 of BLR airport at 10:30 pm had I not called 112, I’d not be here typing this (sic).”

The accused was an independent driver, according to a police officer who spoke with DH about the investigation. His cab had nothing to do with OLA. After lying to the client, the driver accepted in front of the police that all he wanted was a return to the city. However, he denied asking for additional money from the doctor.