The Dindoshi police on Tuesday arrested an Ola cab driver for allegedly molesting and harassing a 30-year-old woman passenger. Driver had been on the run since May 4
The Dindoshi police on Tuesday arrested an Ola cab driver for allegedly molesting and harassing a 30-year-old woman passenger.
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The driver, identified as Pravin Tiwari, 39, had been on the run since May 4, when he allegedly molested the woman. A special team formed by the Dindoshi police traced and arrested him on Tuesday. The woman is a senior employee working in a private sector company in Powai. She lives alone in Dindoshi. The accused is a first time offender.
According to police officials, the woman had booked the cab after work on May 4. The woman said in her complaint that as soon as the trip started the driver allegedly started staring at her on the rear-view mirror.
“He then made obscene gestures and started passing lewd comments,” the woman said in her complaint, adding that the comments became worse when she protested.
She said Tiwari also started speeding and driving rashly. The police said he did not even slow down while negotiating speed breakers and started abusing other motorists.
The woman said in her complaint that this behaviour only added to her fears.
When she finally reached her building, she hurriedly paid the money and rushed inside the compound. She said in her complaint that the accused followed her inside and began chasing her.
When he couldn’t get past the watchman, Tiwari allegedly started enquiring about the complainant to the guard.
Some time later, the complainant said Tiwari started repeatedly calling her on her phone and used abusive language. She said even after she blocked his number, she could see the constant flow of notifications as he kept trying her number.
Worried that the driver may reach her house or office again, the woman approached the Dindoshi police station the next day and filed an FIR.
Senior police inspector Avinash Sawant of Dindoshi police station said, “The woman was very scared as she stays alone. Considering the seriousness of the incident, we made special teams to nab the accused. After five days of chase, we managed to nab the accused today. He is charged under Section 354, 506 and 509. He was produced in the court and released on bail.”
Ola could not be reached for comment.