Rapido driver robbed, assaulted and abandoned near Adalaj after four men book ride through app

A 37-year-old app-based cab driver from Ahmedabad was allegedly robbed, assaulted and abandoned near Adalaj in the early hours of Monday after four unidentified men booked a ride through the Rapido application and later hijacked his vehicle at knifepoint, police said.

The incident, which took place between 1.58 am and 3.30 am on May 25, has been registered at Anandnagar Police Station. The accused allegedly assaulted the driver, threatened to kill him and his family, transferred money from his bank account and fled with his four-wheeler, mobile phone and other valuables collectively worth ₹5.23 lakh.

Rajnikant Rameshbhai Shawal, a resident of New Maninagar in Ramol, earns his livelihood by driving a Maruti Swift Dzire attached to Rapido and Uber platforms.

In his complaint, Rajnikant stated that after completing a trip near Rajwadu Hotel around 1 am, he parked his car near Prahladnagar and was waiting for another booking. Around 1.58 am, he received a Rapido ride request from Krishnadham Auda.

When he reached the pickup location, he found no passengers and contacted the number displayed on the application. He was reportedly instructed to move further ahead near Makarba Phatak, where four men between the ages of 25 and 40 boarded the vehicle.

Police said one passenger occupied the front seat while the remaining three sat at the rear. After the OTP verification, the ride destination showed Ambapur near Adalaj via SG Highway and Vaishnodevi Circle.

The complainant alleged that after crossing Jundal Circle, the passengers directed him towards a dark internal road. One of the men then claimed he needed to use the washroom, prompting Rajnikant to stop the vehicle.

At that point, one of the passengers allegedly looped a belt around the driver’s neck from behind while another assaulted him with punches and slaps. The fourth accused allegedly forced him out of the driver’s seat and took control of the car.

The accused snatched the driver’s Oppo mobile phone, accessed his digital payment applications and transferred ₹2,000 from his Airtel Payments Bank account. They also allegedly robbed him of a silver chain, cash, wallet containing identity documents, bank cards, vehicle papers and passport-sized photographs.

The accused further forced the complainant to make calls to friends and relatives demanding ₹1 lakh, threatening him with death if he disclosed his location or contacted police. However, no ransom amount was arranged.

Rajnikant alleged that the assailants continued beating him throughout the ordeal before abandoning him near a canal road close to a toll plaza around 3.30 am. Before fleeing with the car, the accused allegedly warned him against informing police and threatened to kill his family if he lodged a complaint.

After walking along a service road for some distance, the complainant reportedly found a man sleeping near a puncture repair shop and used his phone to contact the police emergency helpline.

Police personnel later shifted him first to Changodar Police Station and subsequently to Adalaj Police Station. After informing his family and recovering from the shock, the complainant approached the Rapido office for ride details before filing a formal complaint at Anandnagar Police Station.

Police have registered a case of robbery, assault, criminal intimidation and conspiracy against four unidentified persons. Investigators are examining Rapido booking records, call details and CCTV footage from the route taken by the accused to trace the suspects.