Pune IT Professional Suffers Partial Finger Severation in Cab Fare Altercation
In a shocking incident in Pune, a 42-year-old IT professional experienced a brutal assault on Monday afternoon, resulting in the partial severation of one finger on his left hand. The altercation erupted from a dispute over cab fare with a Rapido driver before the ride commenced from Hinjewadi to Nana Peth.
Details of the Violent Encounter
The victim, employed at an IT firm in Phase I of Hinjewadi IT Park, had booked a Rapido cab after his shift ended to travel home to Nana Peth. According to police reports, the cab driver allegedly refused to accept the fare displayed on the app and insisted on payment according to a "meter" system. This disagreement quickly escalated into a physical confrontation around 3:40 PM.
During the assault, the driver bit two fingers of the victim's left hand, with one finger partially severed in the attack. The IT professional was subsequently admitted to a hospital in Pune for urgent medical treatment. He approached the Hinjewadi police the following day after receiving care, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).
Police Investigation and Legal Action
Assistant Inspector Sandeep Vanganekar, the investigating officer from Hinjewadi police, confirmed the arrest of the accused driver. He stated, "The dispute began even before the ride started, as the driver insisted that the fare would be as per the ‘meter'. The victim refused, following which the argument escalated." The accused was produced before the court following his arrest.
A case has been officially registered at the Hinjewadi police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These include charges related to voluntarily causing grievous hurt and intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace. An official statement from Rapido was pending at the time of reporting.
Broader Issues with Cab Fare Practices
This incident highlights a growing concern among cab users in Pune regarding fare acceptance. Many cab drivers are reportedly refusing to accept fares shown on booking applications like Uber and Ola, instead demanding payment based on a meter system. Tanvi Shaikh, a resident of Kondhwa, shared a similar experience: "I booked a cab on Uber around 2 AM from the MSRTC stand in Wakdewadi to Kondhwa last week. The driver told me to pay by meter before starting the ride instead of accepting the fare shown on the app. I cancelled it and booked another on Ola, but had the same experience. Eventually, I took an autorickshaw, which anyway plied by the meter."
Such practices raise questions about the reliability and safety of app-based cab services, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and clearer fare policies to prevent future violent incidents.
