Mumbai News: An autorickshaw driver has been arrested by the Mumbai police for allegedly extorting a 19-year-old man who had returned from the United States. The incident occurred on December 14, when the teenager, a resident of Sangli, hired the vehicle at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to travel to Chembur.
The police identified the accused as 26-year-old Ritesh Kadam. According to the police, the autorickshaw’s meter showed a fare of Rs 106 for the ride to Chembur, but Kadam demanded Rs 3,500 from the passenger, Indian Express reported. When the complainant refused to pay, the driver allegedly involved another individual who threatened the teenager over the phone.
Under duress, the teenager paid Rs 1,000 in cash and Rs 2,500 via Google Pay but not before taking a photograph of the autorickshaw’s registration number. He later reported the incident to the Mumbai police through an email, attaching the photo as evidence, IE's report stated.
Based on the complaint, the police tracked the vehicle using its registration number and arrested Kadam on December 17. During interrogation, the driver admitted to overcharging the passenger, claiming he needed the money and thought the complainant could be coerced into paying the inflated amount.
According to the report, a police officer familiar with the case remarked, “Taxi drivers at the Mumbai airport are known to overcharge travellers coming from abroad. However, in this particular case, the amount charged was excessively inflated, and the threats used made it more akin to extortion than just overcharging.”
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When Mumbai Traffic Police Informed Commuters On Identifying Overcharging By Autorickshaw Meters
Overcharging by autorickshaw drivers remains a widespread issue for commuters, prompting the Mumbai Traffic Police to inform people on how they can identify when they are being overcharged for a ride. Back in October this year, the department released an informative video aimed at educating passengers on how to identify tampered meters and avoid being overcharged.
Shared on X, the video provides a step-by-step guide to spotting meter manipulation. An official from the police department demonstrates a key indicator of tampering: a blinking light that appears after the last digit on the meter display. The official explains that if the light continues to blink after the meter is turned off, it signifies that the meter has been altered to inflate fares. The video also shows how the fare increases rapidly due to the blinking light, whereas turning off the light reveals the actual fare.
The Mumbai Traffic Police captioned the video with the message: “Wondering how your autorickshaw bill is travelling faster than light? No rocket science – here’s a simple guide to help you identify whether the Auto Rickshaw meter is faulty or not. Stay aware, identify, and complain about the faulty meters.”
In a follow-up tweet, the police provided details for reporting faulty meters. Commuters can file complaints through the RTO office complaint helplines: RTO Mumbai Central at 9076201010 or mh01taxicomplaint@gmail.com, and RTO Mumbai West at 9920240202 or mh02.autotaxicomplaint@gmail.com.
The department also announced that legal action has begun against autorickshaw drivers caught tampering with meters. This includes the filing of First Information Reports (FIRs), vehicle seizures, and the revocation of permits for offenders.