R Muthuraj, an Ola auto-rickshaw driver in Bengaluru, has been sentenced to four days in jail and is required to pay ₹30,000 in legal fees following his arrest for assaulting a college student. The incident, which garnered widespread attention after a video of the altercation went viral, occurred when Muthuraj reacted aggressively to a woman canceling her ride.
The driver was apprehended by Magadi police shortly after the video surfaced, leading to a significant public outcry. Muthuraj has been charged under Sections 74 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which cover assault and provoking a breach of peace. He will remain in custody for a minimum of four days before being eligible to apply for bail, with legal costs estimated to surpass ₹30,000.
“This was a rogue act. The accused verbally abused and physically assaulted a young woman in broad daylight, all because she cancelled a ride. Such behaviour is unacceptable, and we decided to bring him before the court to demonstrate the gravity of the offence,” a senior police officer stated.
Muthuraj will have to wait until Monday to apply for bail, with the paperwork potentially stretching into Tuesday or Wednesday. An investigating officer pointed out the irony that the driver’s legal costs far exceed the value of the cancelled trip, which was likely no more than ₹20-30.
During questioning, Muthuraj admitted to his anger over the ride cancellation but could not justify his violent actions. C Mallikarjuna, the additional commissioner of transport (enforcement), announced that the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has been instructed to prepare a report on the incident. Depending on the findings, Muthuraj’s driver’s license and permit may be suspended.
Transport Commissioner Yogeesh AM added that there is no standardized fee for ride cancellations, as such matters are typically governed by agreements between ride-hailing companies and their customers. As of now, Ola has not provided any comments regarding their cancellation policies or any potential actions against Muthuraj.
Sources By Agencies
