According to officials, the emergency meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 10.30 am at the minister’s office in Mantralaya. Following the incident, Sarnaik has sought an explanation on why the temporary permits granted to app-based aggregators should not be cancelled
Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed officials to examine violations related to unauthorised passenger transport and take appropriate action. File pic
In the wake of an alleged molestation of a young woman passenger by a bike rider in Kalyan, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has called an urgent meeting of the motor vehicles department (MVD) to review the functioning of app-based bike taxi and cab aggregators operating in the state.
According to officials, the emergency meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 10.30 am at the minister’s office in Mantralaya.
Following the incident, Sarnaik has sought an explanation on why the temporary permits granted to app-based aggregators such as Rapido, Ola, and Uber should not be cancelled, amid allegations that they are flouting transport regulations and operating illegal passenger services.
The transport minister has directed the department to examine violations related to unauthorised passenger transport and take appropriate action in accordance with the law. He has also asked officials to review safety norms and regulatory compliance, particularly in view of concerns over passenger security.
The minister’s move comes days after the Regional Transport Office (RTO) filed a case against Roppen Transport Pvt Ltd, which operates Rapido, for allegedly running illegal bike taxi services in Mumbai despite a government ban. mid-day.com had reported on December 5 that motor vehicle inspectors conducted a decoy operation in Nehru Nagar and Kurla by booking bike rides through the Rapido app to test the legality of the service.
According to police, three bike taxis arrived as per the bookings and were fined Rs 10,000 under Sections 66 and 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act for operating without a valid permit, along with Section 142, which pertains to permanent disablement of vehicles.
Rapido denies affiliation with suspect
Rapido clarified that the accused “is not, and has never been, a Rapido Captain,” adding that his name was incorrectly linked to the brand in early reports.
According to the company, the individual had applied to join Rapido but was denied onboarding as he failed to meet the company’s eligibility and verification standards.
“As confirmed by the authorities, the complainant had booked a bike taxi ride on another platform on December 13, 2025,” the spokesperson said.
The company further stated that all captains registered on Rapido undergo rigorous onboarding protocols, including background verification, strict KYC checks, mandatory training on conduct and safety, and immediate suspension upon receiving credible complaints. It also highlighted additional safety measures such as post-10 pm safety check-ins for women riders, 24×7 in-app SOS support, and prompts encouraging riders to verify captain and vehicle details before every trip.
Rapido reiterated that it would extend full cooperation to law enforcement agencies whenever required.
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