A Bengaluru woman had a terrifying near-miss experience after unknowingly boarding a fake Ola cab at Kempegowda International Airport. The incident, which occurred late at night on November 9, has sparked concerns about passenger safety at airports and the safety protocols of ride-hailing services.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the woman detailed how she had arrived at the airport at around 10:30 pm and proceeded to book an Ola cab from the designated pickup station. However, when she arrived at the stand, a driver who was not assigned to her booking approached and offered to take her to her destination. Despite having doubts, she got into the car, only to discover that the driver was not following the expected procedures for an official Ola ride.
The driver failed to request the required one-time password (OTP) or use the Ola app, which is a standard security protocol. Instead, he asked her to input her destination in his own Maps app, claiming that his Ola app was malfunctioning. As they began driving, the woman became increasingly suspicious when the driver demanded extra fare beyond the original booking price. When she refused, the driver suggested transferring her to another vehicle for the original fare, which heightened her fears.
The woman, feeling unsafe, asked the driver to return her to the airport. However, he ignored her requests and instead stopped at a petrol station, where he demanded ₹500 for fuel. Realizing the danger she was in, the woman remained calm and quickly called India’s emergency helpline, 112, while simultaneously alerting a family member.
The police responded promptly, arriving at the Ola pickup station within 20 minutes. They arrested the driver, later identified as Basavaraj, who was impersonating an Ola driver. The woman later recounted her experience on X, saying, “Almost got trafficked/raped/looted/assaulted by a random cab driver who was let in by @BLRAirport in the Ola pickup station. If I hadn’t called 112, I’d not be here typing this.”
The woman’s post has since gone viral, with many users expressing shock and sympathy for her ordeal. Some shared similar experiences, further underlining the need for improved security and safety measures at airports and for ride-hailing services. One user commented, “This is so scary, I’m getting goosebumps while reading your complaint letter.” Another person wrote, “I hope you’re doing okay now; this exact thing happened to me a few months back.”
The incident has raised concerns about security at airports, particularly at isolated locations such as Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. One user called for stricter actions, saying, “@BLRAirport must ensure the safety of passengers, the airport is far away from the city and is quite isolated. This could have been very serious.”
Authorities are now looking into the incident, and questions are being raised regarding the protocols in place for ride-hailing services at the airport. Meanwhile, the woman’s quick thinking and calm response likely prevented a much more dangerous situation from unfolding.
Sources By Agencies