Hyderabad. 10 August
Woman Confronts Man Claiming to Be Rapido Driver Near Charminar
A woman confronted a man who allegedly claimed to be a Rapido driver and offered her a ride near Charminar on Saturday night, August 8, despite reportedly having no valid registration number displayed on his two-wheeler.
The incident was shared on social media by Hyderabad-based influencer Siddeshwari Sugandh, who said the man approached her while she was looking for an auto-rickshaw in the Charminar area at around 9 pm.
According to Sugandh, the man identified himself as a Rapido driver and offered to drop her even though she had not booked a ride through the platform.
Woman asks Charminar Rapido driver for ID
Sugandh said she began recording the interaction after becoming suspicious of the man’s claim.
When she asked him to show his Rapido driver ID, the man reportedly responded that he had no reason to lie to her.
Sugandh questioned why he was offering her a ride when she had not booked a Rapido trip.
While the man searched for an identification or proof of his association with the platform, Sugandh noticed another issue with his vehicle.
Two-wheeler allegedly had no valid number plate
According to Sugandh, the two-wheeler being used by the man did not have a complete registration number displayed on its number plate.
She said the plate only showed the letters “TG”, with the registration number missing.
Sugandh questioned the man about how he was riding the vehicle without a proper registration number.
The man reportedly told her that he occasionally rode the vehicle and used it mainly while travelling home.
The incident has since drawn attention online, with concerns being raised over vehicle identification and the need for passengers to verify drivers before accepting rides.
Man allegedly downloads Rapido app when asked for ID
Sugandh further claimed that the man did not immediately provide a Rapido driver ID when she asked for one.
Instead, she said she saw him downloading the Rapido app from the Google Play Store.
According to her account, the app was subsequently left at the stage where an OTP had to be entered.
This reportedly increased her suspicion that the man was not an authorised Rapido driver.
Sugandh also said the man later told her that his scooter was not starting.
Influencer tells man to leave
The interaction became heated as Sugandh continued questioning the man about his identity and the reason for approaching her.
She told him to leave the area and not approach women by offering rides without a booking or verification.
The incident was captured in a video that Sugandh later shared on Instagram, along with her account of what happened.
The claims made in the video have not independently established whether the man was officially associated with Rapido, and no police action or complaint was mentioned in the information available about the incident.
Influencer says she does not blame Rapido
Sugandh later clarified that her post was not intended to blame Rapido.
She said she regularly uses the platform and trusts its services, adding that the incident was about someone allegedly using the Rapido name to gain her confidence.
According to Sugandh, her concern was the man’s confidence in approaching a woman at night and offering a ride despite there being no prior booking.
She urged women and other passengers to verify their driver through the official app before entering a vehicle.
Woman urges passengers to verify drivers
Sugandh advised passengers not to get into a vehicle if someone approaches them claiming to be their booked driver without an existing ride on the app.
She also urged users to check the driver’s identity and vehicle details before beginning a journey.
The incident has sparked discussion online about passenger safety and the importance of verifying ride-hailing drivers before accepting a trip.
What passengers should check before a ride
- Verify the driver’s name and profile through the app.
- Check whether the vehicle number matches the booking.
- Do not accept a ride from someone who approaches you without a booking.
- Avoid entering a vehicle if the driver or vehicle details cannot be verified.
- If you feel unsafe, move to a crowded or well-lit area and seek help.
The incident near Charminar serves as a reminder for passengers to verify ride details before entering any vehicle, particularly when someone approaches them independently and claims to be a driver.