A 19-year-old bike taxi rider working with a ride-hailing platform has been arrested in Maharashtra’s Kalyan for allegedly molesting a 26-year-old woman during a booked ride and stealing cash from her. Police said the incident occurred on Saturday evening when the woman was travelling to her gym after booking a bike taxi.
According to officials, the woman boarded the two-wheeler from the Chickenghar area around 7 pm, expecting to be dropped near Kalyan railway station, where her gym is located. Instead of following the designated route, the rider allegedly diverted the vehicle toward a deserted and poorly lit stretch near a police colony in the Syndicate area.
Police said that once the rider stopped the vehicle at the isolated location, he forcefully grabbed the woman’s hand and behaved indecently. The accused allegedly attempted to sexually assault her, but the woman screamed for help, drawing the attention of nearby residents.
Hearing her cries, locals rushed to the spot and intervened, rescuing the woman and detaining the rider. In the process, the accused was beaten by the crowd before police arrived and brought the situation under control.
The accused has been identified as Siddhesh Pardeshi, a 19-year-old and a Class VII dropout who had been working as a bike taxi rider for around one and a half months. Police said he also snatched the woman’s purse during the incident and stole Rs 1,000 in cash. A knife was later recovered from his possession.
Based on the woman’s complaint, a case was registered against the rider for molestation, attempted sexual assault and theft. He was arrested on Sunday and has been remanded to police custody till December 18. Investigators are also probing whether he may have been involved in similar offences in the past.
In parallel, transport authorities have initiated action under the Motor Vehicles Act. Officials from the Kalyan Regional Transport Office said the accused was operating an unauthorised bike taxi by using a petrol-powered motorcycle, which violates the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules 2025 that mandate the use of electric two-wheelers.
The state transport department has also sought explanations from bike taxi aggregators, including Rapido, Ola and Uber, over alleged violations of permit conditions. Authorities warned that temporary licences issued to these companies could be cancelled if violations are confirmed.
Following the incident, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik is set to hold an urgent meeting with senior officials of the Motor Transport Department to review the matter and discuss stricter enforcement of bike taxi regulations across the state.
