Indian cops arrest Uber cabbie charged for raping passenger

The incident highlights security concerns of Uber cab service users and Indian women, who avoid travelling after dark following the rise in rape incidents in New Delhi

A cab driver accused of raping a woman in New Delhi on Friday night, has been arrested from Mathura. The driver, 32-year-old Shiv Kumar Yadav, was working with Uber, a US-based company which recently launched its taxi supplying service through a smartphone app in India.

The 27-year-old woman, an executive for a finance company, said in her complaint that after hiring the cab, a Maruti Suzuki Dzire, on Friday night near Gurgaoun, she fell asleep and woke up to find the car parked at a secluded spot. The driver then allegedly raped her.

Medical tests have confirmed that she was raped, said police sources.

She told the police that the driver then dropped her near her home in north Delhi after threatening to shove an iron rod inside her, in a chilling reminder of the December 2012 gang-rape, if she complained.

“The woman clicked a photograph of the car’s number plate and then reported the crime to police,” a police officer said, which led to the identification of the cab company and the driver, leading to his arrest.

WHAT UBER HAS TO SAY:

Earlier, the Delhi Police had sent a notice to Uber, asking it to join the investigations.

“Our thoughts are with the victim of this terrible crime,” Uber spokeswoman Evelyn Tay reportedly said in a statement.

The company said it had suspended the driver’s licence and provided all relevant details to the police.

When an Uber driver is requested via its app, the user is shown a photo of the driver along with his phone number when he is en route. In this case, the suspect’s phone was allegedly not registered in his own name. Uber uses GPS installed on drivers’ phones to track their locations, but the driver had switched off his phone.

UBER, INDIA AND SAFETY:

The attack is a blow to US-based Uber’s reputation in India, where women are extremely safety-conscious after dark following a string of rapes that sparked global shock and anger.

“Safety is Uber’s highest priority and in India we work with licensed driver-partners to provide a safe transportation option,” said Uber spokeskesperson.

Urban workers use Uber’s smartphone app to connect with and pay for local drivers but the firm, founded in 2009 and now present in more than 200 cities and in 45 countries, has faced privacy concerns.

Uber was caught in a storm in the US last month over allegations riders were being spied on using an internal “God view” tool. The company’s rapid expansion has also caused tensions with traditional taxi drivers, especially in Europe.