Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 20: Popular ride-hailing platform Rapido has landed in serious legal trouble after being caught continuing to operate bike taxi services in Mumbai, despite a government ban. The action came following a sting operation led by the Maharashtra Transport Department, which revealed the app was still facilitating illegal two-wheeler rides across the city.

According to reports, the Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik himself became involved in the operation, confirming firsthand that bike taxi services were still being run under Rapido’s name. This prompted an immediate response, with six officers from the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Mumbai, booking rides through the app to gather evidence.

Based on their findings, the Amboli Police have registered a case against the directors of Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited—the company behind Rapido. The charges include serious offences under the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 223 for disobeying official orders, Section 318 for cheating, and violations under the Motor Vehicles Act. The complaint was lodged by Harshal Sose, an RTO inspector from the Andheri office.

The crackdown comes as part of a broader regulatory campaign across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), where authorities are tightening control over unlicensed transport aggregators. However, the move has sparked outrage among daily commuters, who relied heavily on the now-banned bike taxis for a quick and economical mode of transport in Mumbai’s heavily congested traffic.

Adding to the unrest, app-based taxi drivers from areas like Mumbra have also been staging protests, claiming platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido are exploiting them through inconsistent pricing and high commission rates. Many allege that rising fuel prices and opaque fare algorithms have drastically slashed their earnings.

While the government did step in to address the growing agitation by meeting driver representatives and offering reassurances, the tension on Mumbai’s roads continues to simmer. As Rapido faces the brunt of legal action, the battle between regulation and digital convenience seems far from over.