A terrifying incident in Bengaluru has sparked outrage after a Rapido cab driver, identified as Nagaraj R, allegedly threatened a passenger with a keychain fashioned into a makeshift knife during a dispute over air conditioning.
Altercation Escalates to Violence
On February 25 at Victoria Layout, a 24-year-old man, known on Reddit as “DoggyDog_World2025,” requested that the driver turn on the AC during his ride. What began as a simple disagreement quickly escalated when the driver demanded that the passenger exit the vehicle and cancel the ride. When the man refused, Nagaraj R allegedly brandished his keychain—using it as a mini knife—and held it against the man’s chest.
A Narrow Escape and Immediate Aftermath
In a dramatic turn of events, the passenger managed to escape after pointing toward a nearby traffic cop, causing the driver to momentarily back off. The man then took refuge in another vehicle and reached his destination safely. Following the ordeal, he filed a complaint with Rapido, detailing the incident on Reddit and warning others about the driver’s behavior.
Rapido driver tried to stab me on Bangalore main road
byu/DoggyDog_World2025 inbangalore
Unwanted Aftermath: OTP Bombardment
The situation worsened when the driver reportedly shared the victim’s phone number, resulting in a barrage of one-time password (OTP) messages every 15 minutes. Frustrated by this continued harassment, the passenger has now lodged a formal police complaint against the driver.
Rapido’s Response and Ongoing Concerns
After the incident was reported, Rapido’s customer support assured the victim that appropriate action would be taken. The company confirmed that the driver had been suspended, following the submission of screenshots and call logs that served as evidence. Despite receiving an email confirmation of the suspension, the victim revealed that he continued to receive OTP messages shortly after, raising serious concerns about data security and customer protection.
The passenger questioned, “Beyond ‘suspension,’ how is Rapido going to safeguard me from further harassment? Had my number not been exposed, this would never have happened.”
Authorities are investigating the case, and Rapido is under pressure to address both the physical threat and the subsequent digital harassment. The incident has ignited widespread debate on social media, with many calling for stricter measures to protect customers and prevent similar occurrences in the future.