NEW DELHI - Nov. 27, 2025               

A routine Uber ride for Delhi-based environmental activist Bharati Chaturvedi turned into a frightening ordeal on Sunday when she says her driver became agitated, refused to follow the correct route, and ultimately assaulted her. Chaturvedi, the founder of the NGO Chintan, later shared her account on social media and reached out to the Delhi Police commissioner via email, demanding urgent action. The incident has since sparked widespread concern over women’s safety during app-based cab rides and the effectiveness of emergency helplines.

According to Chaturvedi, the issue began when the cab’s pinned location stopped incorrectly near Essex Farms, well short of her true destination at a doctor’s clinic in Sarvodaya Enclave. She said she politely asked the driver to continue straight and take a U-turn ahead, something he agreed to initially. But within seconds, she says, his behavior shifted dramatically. He allegedly began yelling, appeared irritated, and refused to follow her instructions. Chaturvedi wrote that the driver grew increasingly hostile, insisting that he would drop her only at the exact pinned point shown in the app.

As the car approached a turn, she says the driver suddenly accelerated, overshooting the route and continuing toward Malviya Nagar. She repeatedly asked him to stop, but he allegedly ignored her, maintaining that he would only drop her where Uber had marked the location. Chaturvedi wrote that even when the car passed near the DCP office, the driver refused to halt or change direction, creating an atmosphere of rising fear and helplessness.

Feeling unsafe and recalling advice from a women’s safety training session, she decided to open the cab door in hopes of forcing the driver to slow down. Instead of stopping, she alleges that the driver turned around, grabbed her arm, and twisted it with considerable force. She described the assault as sudden, painful, and deeply shocking, adding that she feared the situation could escalate even further.

Chaturvedi said that during the incident, she attempted to dial the police helpline 100, only to find it unresponsive. The PCR line, she claims, also failed to connect. After exiting the vehicle, she said a police patrol van passed her on the road, but despite standing in the middle of the street and waving urgently, the officers did not stop and instead turned into the DCP office premises. She later said that no officer contacted her, even after her social media post gained attention.

Uber responded on Tuesday, confirming that the driver had been permanently removed from the platform. A company spokesperson stated that the behavior described was a “clear breach” of Uber’s community guidelines. The statement also emphasized that the in-app SOS feature connects riders directly to law enforcement for emergencies, though Chaturvedi’s experience has raised serious questions about the reliability of such measures.

Delhi Police said they will register an FIR once they receive a formal written complaint. However, they have not commented on the allegations that helpline numbers failed to respond. The case has reignited a broader debate about the safety of women in public and private transport, and whether emergency systems are robust enough when they are most needed.

Delhi Woman Alleges Violent Cab Ride and Failed Helpline Response, Raising Fresh Safety Concerns

A Delhi environmental activist, Bharati Chaturvedi, has alleged that a routine Uber ride from Vasant Vihar to Sarvodaya Enclave turned into a frightening ordeal when the driver became aggressive, refused to follow the correct route, and later assaulted her. She said the trip went wrong when the cab’s pin stopped near Essex Farms instead of her actual destination. Although the driver initially agreed to continue, he soon began yelling and insisted he would drop her only at the app’s pinned location. Chaturvedi claimed he ignored her requests, sped up, and overshot the route toward Malviya Nagar, even as she repeatedly asked him to stop. Fearing for her safety, she opened the door to force the driver to slow down, but instead, he allegedly twisted her arm violently. She also said she tried calling the police helpline 100, which she found unresponsive, while the PCR line did not connect. According to her, a passing patrol van did not stop despite her waving for help. After posting her experience online, she emailed the Delhi Police commissioner and plans to file an FIR. Uber confirmed that the driver has been removed from the platform, calling his actions a serious breach of community guidelines. Delhi Police said an FIR will be lodged once they receive her formal complaint.