A disturbing incident of alleged religious discrimination on the festival of Eid al-Fitr has sparked outrage after a Rapido driver in Delhi reportedly refused to pick up a Muslim passenger, openly stating that “Muslims are not allowed” in his vehicle. The episode, which went viral after being shared online, has once again raised serious concerns about communal bias and passenger safety on ride-hailing platforms.
Rapido Driver’s Refusal Triggers Outrage
The incident came to light after journalist Zain, originally from Kerala and currently based in Delhi, booked a ride through Rapido. According to Zain, the driver, identified as Subhash Rawat, cancelled the ride after allegedly realising the passenger’s religious identity.
In a phone conversation recorded by Zain, the driver can be heard saying, “Muslims are not allowed in my vehicle.” When questioned, he reportedly reiterated his stance and added, “This is not your father’s vehicle,” before asking the passenger to stop calling.
Zain later shared the audio clip on social media, where it quickly went viral, prompting widespread criticism and demands for action against the driver.
Company Responds, Calls Conduct “Unacceptable”
Following the backlash, Rapido issued a public apology, calling the driver’s behaviour “completely unacceptable.” The company said it is reviewing the matter and reiterated its commitment to passenger safety.
“Your safety is our top priority, and we are committed to ensuring a respectful and secure experience for all our passengers,” the company said in its statement.
The incident has reignited debate over accountability mechanisms within app-based transport services and the need for stricter action against discriminatory conduct by drivers.
Similar Complaint Against Ola Driver
In a separate but equally alarming incident reported earlier this month, a senior advocate approached Ola with a formal complaint against one of its drivers, alleging communal harassment and intimidation.
The complaint, addressed to Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, detailed how the driver allegedly glorified violence against Muslim passengers during a ride in Delhi. The driver, whose name appeared as “Shri Ram” on the app, reportedly narrated incidents in which he claimed to have assaulted Muslim passengers over their food habits.
According to the complainant, the driver described one such incident where he allegedly beat a Muslim passenger for consuming non-vegetarian food in his vehicle, boasting that others joined in and “broke the man’s legs.” The advocate noted that the driver appeared to take pride in these acts and repeatedly emphasised the victims’ religious identity.
In another instance, the driver allegedly spoke about assaulting a passenger in Noida, claiming such actions were justified and even supported by the state.
