Chaithanya.Swamy@timesofindia.comBengaluru: A Rapido ride took an unexpected turn for a commuter after the driver stole his mobile phone and later demanded Rs 18,000 to return it.According to the complaint filed by Trideep Debnath, 25, a resident of a paying guest accommodation in BTM Layout 1st Stage, he had booked a Rapido two-wheeler ride from Narayanappa Garden 4th Cross to Marathahalli around 5.54am on Sept 6. Rapido rider Ashutosh Kumar arrived on a white scooter instead of the booked vehicle bearing registration number KA-01-HX-7232.During the journey, the victim, with the driver’s permission, kept his Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, worth around Rs 50,000, on the scooter for charging. When they reached a fuel station in Madiwala, the driver stopped to get the air pressure checked for tyres. At that moment, when the victim got down from the scooter and was checking the backside tyre, the rider fled with the phone.Later, the accused contacted Trideep’s sister using the same phone through WhatsApp and demanded Rs 18,000 to return it. He threatened to destroy the device or sell it outside Karnataka if the money was not paid. The accused also sent a UPI scanner for payment.Based on the complaint, Madiwala police have registered a case under BNS sections 303 (theft) and 351 (criminal intimidation).
