An Ola cab driver has been accused of physically assaulting a woman passenger following an argument over payment.
The incident happened when the Bengaluru-based woman tried to pay electronically through her e-wallet. She was allegedly slapped on the face and showered with verbal abuses by the cab driver, K B Vinu.
Aveta Thampatty, a resident of Bengaluru, had hailed the Ola cab to travel from Lulu Mall to Panampilly Nagar at around 8.45pm on Tuesday.
“The driver wanted the woman to pay Rs 247, the fare in cash. The woman who had money in her e-wallet (Ola money smart card) however didn’t have liquid cash with her,” police said. The altercation started when the woman asked the driver to approach Ola support team in case he wanted a clarification.
“I had already paid by Ola wallet and I didn’t have cash. This guy started accusing me and when I raised my voice, he slapped me on my face. Kerala is very unsafe to travel. He was showering abusive words on me. Really helpless situation,” Aveta posted on Facebook. She works as a digital marketing manager.
Police said that the woman asked the driver to end the trip as it was getting late but he refused. He uttered abusive words in Malayalam. When the woman tried to capture his video, he slapped her on the face.
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On Wednesday morning, the woman lodged a complaint with the Ernakulam South station following which a case under section 354 IPC (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) was registered against the accused driver. In response to the complaint, Ola said that the company has zero tolerance towards such behaviour and they have suspended the driver soon after the Facebook post was made.
