Mumbai: A 50-year-old taxi driver has been arrested for allegedly charging a US tourist a shocking amount of Rs 18,000 for what turned out to be a 400-metre
ride from the airport to a nearby five-star hotel, police said on Friday. The incident came to light after the tourist shared her experience on social media, prompting swift action by the police. In her post on X, the woman alleged that after landing in the city, she hired a taxi to reach a hotel near the airport but was instead taken to an unknown location before being overcharged. “Landed in Mumbai recently and took a taxi to @HiltonHotels. The driver and another guy took us to an unknown location first, charged us $200 (Rs 18,000), and then dropped us at the hotel, which was only 400m away. Taxi No: MH 01 BD 5405,” she wrote.
Taxi Driver Arrested Within Hours
Following the post, the Mumbai Police registered a suo motu FIR and apprehended the accused, Deshraj Yadav, within three hours. Police said Yadav had picked up the tourist from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and dropped her at a Hilton Mumbai International Airport.The foreign national could not be contacted during the investigation, an official said.
A probe revealed that instead of taking the tourist directly to the hotel, the accused allegedly drove her around Andheri East for nearly 20 minutes before returning to the same area and dropping her off. It was at this point that he collected the inflated fare of $200, police added.
Authorities said efforts are underway to trace and arrest the accomplice who was allegedly involved in the scam.
A case has been registered against Yadav under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said the process to cancel his driving licence has also been initiated.
(with inputs from PTI)
