Eeco cabbie held for ‘raping passenger’

“The woman was sent for a medical examination and we have registered an FIR on the basis of her complaint. Kumar has been arrested and we are investigating the case,” DCP (Southwest) R A Sanjeev said.

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The FIR was registered under IPC sections pertaining to rape, wrongful confinement and voluntarily causing hurt, among others.

The 32-year-old woman reportedly works in a West Delhi shopping mall. On Thursday night, around 10 pm, she hailed an Eeco cab, a private taxi service, outside Dwarka Mor Metro station. She instructed Kumar to take her to Madhu Vihar. Another passenger,  whom police have been unable to identify yet, also got into the cab at the same point. Kumar dropped him off at Rajapuri, police said.

“After dropping the passenger, Kumar parked his taxi around 70 metres from the Rajapuri traffic signal, along a stretch where street lights were not working. There, the woman alleges in her complaint, Kumar got into the rear seat of the black Maruti van and tried to disrobe her.

When she resisted, he slapped and punched her  face several times. He also assaulted and threatened her,” an officer said.

A passerby on a two-wheeler noticed a woman struggling and heard her cries for help. He rode to the PCR van standing some distance away and informed police.”

Police said by the time the police car reached the spot, the cabbie had driven off. But the taxi was chased and intercepted. A frightened Kumar then got off the vehicle and began running but he was quickly nabbed.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said his government has “written to the Centre to stop mobile-based applications which are used to run these cabs unless they fulfil all safety requirements”.

As for this incident, he said, “we will ensure strictest action is taken”.