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A Jaipur-based influencer has come forward with allegations against a driver affiliated with the ride-hailing service Uber. The digital content creator, Manali Gupta, recounted her distressing experience during a recent Uber ride as she was on her way to pick up her daughter from school. The incident was documented through a video shared on Instagram.
Gupta, a mother of two, shared her account in the video’s caption, saying, “During my recent Uber ride to pick up my daughter from school, I was engaged in a phone call when the driver abruptly attempted to snatch my phone.”
In the video, she vividly described her unsettling encounter and expressed her hope that Uber would take appropriate action against the driver.
She further revealed that she requested the driver to stop the car when he attempted to grab her phone, but her pleas went unanswered. She recounted, “Startled, I protested, and he responded with verbal abuse. Fearing for my safety, I urgently requested him to stop the car, but he ignored my pleas and sped up.”
Gupta also stated that, in an attempt to protect herself, she moved to the opposite end of the car seat and eventually managed to exit the vehicle while it was still in motion.
In her video, she identified the driver by name and provided information about the car involved, urging Uber to take immediate action to ensure the safety of its users and to consider banning the driver, Shyam Sundar (2018 Eon, RJ14 TE 5679), to prevent similar incidents in the future.
See the video here:
Uber promptly responded to the situation with an apology, emphasizing their commitment to safety. They stated, “Safety is paramount at Uber, and such behavior has no place on our platform. Our safety agent has connected with you, and based on your concerning feedback, we’ve taken appropriate action against the concerned driver-partner. Please refer to the in-app Help section for further details.”
The video gained significant attention on Instagram, amassing over 2.9 million views and a flood of comments. Many users shared their own distressing experiences with cab drivers, highlighting the need for improved safety measures within the platform.
One user recounted a similar incident, saying, “A similar incident happened to me recently. The driver started staring at me from the rearview mirror and made a comment that I was smelling good in a sexual way. I confronted him, and he apologized, but while getting down, he tried snatching my phone. I yelled at him, and he reported me to Uber, stating I misbehaved with him. I received a warning from Uber about my behavior, but there is no update from their side about the safety issue that I raised against the driver. Pathetic @uber_india.”
Another user expressed concern, commenting, “This is very disturbing and unsafe. Please take Action.”
“I wish you strength to cope with this incident. @uber_india This is shocking and unexpected. If background checks are something you are already doing, you also need to conduct mental health checks. We considered @uber the safest mode of transport; unfortunately, that will change, especially if no action is taken,” wrote a third user.
