An Ola cab driver was arrested for trying to abduct a 25-year-old woman passenger in the wee hours of Thursday in Chikkajala in Northeast Bengaluru.
The driver was drunk at the time of the incident.
According to police, the incident took place around 2 am.
The woman booked the Ola cab from Banaswadi in East Bengaluru to the Kempegowda International Airport.
The victim, a private firm employee, was scheduled to catch a flight to Mumbai early in the morning. After the cab crossed the toll-gate near the airport, the driver switched lanes and began driving towards Hyderabad, the police said.
The woman noticed that the route was not the one to the KIA and insisted that he takes a u-turn or stop the car.
But the driver continued to drive despite her pleas. The victim realised then that he was drunk.
As soon as the cab reached the second toll, the victim screamed for help and caught the attention of the toll-plaza staff.
Swinging into action, the staff immediately surrounded the cab and helped the woman alight the vehicle. They also noticed that he was drunk and did not let him escape.
Meanwhile, the victim informed the police, who rushed to the spot and arrested Suresh.
The suspect has been booked for kidnapping and drunk driving. Preliminary inquiries reveal that the suspect was not even a registered Ola cab driver.
The cab he was driving was registered under his brother’s name, the police sources said.
“The victim called one of her relatives who dropped her to KIA,” said Kala Krishnaswamy, DCP Northeast Division.
Ola, meanwhile, has assured co-operation with the police in their investigation.
“We are deeply disturbed to know about the incident. The cab involved has been removed from our platform.
We are extending all needed support to the customer. Additionally, we are also engaging with the police to lend assistance in their ongoing investigations.”