Bengaluru woman confronts Rapido auto driver trying to steal from her bag, shares video

India Today

22-06-2025

A woman from Bengaluru shared a video of herself confronting a Rapido auto-rickshaw driver who tried to steal from her handbag; the clip has since gone viral on social media. Janhavi Kshatriyas, a model and fashion designer, posted the video on Instagram and detailed the incident in the post.According to Kshatriyas, the incident began during a recent ride when the driver kept watching her through the rearview camera. 'The driver was staring at me repeatedly through the rearview mirror in an uncomfortable, almost creepy way. I immediately informed my friend via Snapchat and mentioned that my phone battery was low,' she said in her post.advertisementKshatriyas told him she would prefer to pay before reaching the destination since her phone's battery was running low. He agreed, but the situation took a turn soon after.
'I even requested the driver to let me pay before my phone died, which he allowed. Later, he offered to charge my phone and took it in his hand, which I now regret,' she said. As they drove past a Hanuman statue, and she folded her hands in prayer, the driver made an offhand comment about her religion. 'He mocked me and asked if I was Hindu. When I said yes, he replied, 'You don't look like one,'' she wrote, calling the remark inappropriate.The real shock came when she briefly stepped out to buy coffee powder. Upon returning, she saw the driver trying to unzip her handbag. 'I asked the driver to stop, crossed the road, and went to the shop. They didn't have it, so I came out quickly, only to witness the most shocking part,' she said. advertisement'He was caught red-handed. My money was stuck in the zip, and he was struggling to pull it out. He didn't realise I was standing right behind him,' Kshatriyas said.When she confronted him, the driver mumbled excuses. He claimed he was trying to move the bag for 'safety' and then blamed a random girl nearby for the attempted theft. 'When I confronted him, he nervously claimed he was 'trying to move the bag behind to keep it safe' and even tried to blame a random girl nearby for trying to steal it,' Kshatriyas said. She clarified the situation to the bystanders and recorded the moment, sharing the video along with his vehicle details online. Kshatriyas concluded her post, saying, 'This is not just about money. This is about trust, safety, and dignity. I shudder to think what could have happened if I hadn't returned in time.'Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Janhavi Kshatriyas (@janhavi_jaan_official)Rapido reacted to the viral post, saying, 'Hi Janhavi, we sincerely apologise on behalf of the captain. This is not the kind of experience we aim to provide. We take customer safety seriously and follow a zero-tolerance policy for such behaviour. Please allow us time to investigate.'advertisementIn a follow-up reply, Rapido also said they had tried reaching her but received no response. 'Let us know a convenient time to connect over a call. We appreciate your cooperation.'The incident prompted strong reactions from users online. See the comments here: As of now, Janhavi Kshatriyas has not shared any update regarding the incident. This article will be updated if she issues any further statements on the matter. Trending Reel