Uber sexual assault case: Driver arrested in Gurgaon, Bassi promises prompt action

A driver contracted with US-based online taxi company Uber Technologies was arrested near New Delhi on Tuesday, police said, after a woman passenger accused him of sexual harassment when she hailed his cab over the weekend. The latest accusation surfaced on social media on Sunday when the woman’s brother, Ankush Pathania, posted a picture of Uber’s response to the complaint and urged the company to take swift action. A police complaint was registered late on Monday. “The driver was arrested after the initial investigation,” said a police official in Gurgaon, a city near New Delhi. “He is in police custody and we are cross-questioning him.” A report in _Hindustan Time_s says the accused, Vinod Kumar, is a married man from Saya Nagar in Delhi and has been driving a Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire contracted by the app-based taxi service since May 4. Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi has also assured prompt action and said that a few taxis have already been confiscated. “We will look into it and whatever action is required, we will definitely take. We have impounded a number of such taxis and we have also take action under the Motor Vehicles Act. Whatever else is required we will be doing,” said Bassi. “Anything which has come in the media, I may be aware of that but I will take an official notice only if I get something officially,” he added. [caption id=“attachment_2173517” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AFP[/caption] Pathania’s sister, a 21-year-old professional dancer, told Reuters by telephone the Uber driver kissed her hand after dropping her in Gurgaon on Saturday night. She ran away when the driver tried to kiss her on the mouth. “My sister will now share her part of the story with the police,” Pathania said earlier on Tuesday. “We want the driver to be punished.” Indian law generally prohibits the identification of victims of sex crimes. The law is intended to protect victims’ privacy and keep them from the media glare in a country where the social stigma associated with such crimes can be devastating. Authorities in New Delhi have maintained that Uber is banned in the capital and is operating without permission. However, the transport ministry said in April such companies should be better regulated but not banned. Uber offers taxi services using its mobile application. In recent weeks, it has launched new safety features including stricter background screening of its drivers and an in-app SOS button that connects to the police. Before the driver’s arrest, police official Amit Kumar said both the woman and the driver would be questioned in the case. Uber said it was willing to share the necessary information with authorities. “Uber has a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour,” Uber’s general manager for Delhi, Gagan Bhatia, said in a statement.

This is the second incident of crimes against women involving drivers of the cab service providing company. In December last year, 27-year-old financial consultant was allegedly raped by a cab driver working in partnership with Uber.

With inputs from Agencies