Viral Video: Bengaluru Woman Harassed by Rapido Driver for Speaking Non-Kannada, Demanded Rs.390 for Rs.296 Ride
Viral Video: Bengaluru Woman Harassed by Rapido Driver for Speaking Non-Kannada, Demanded Rs.390 for Rs.296 Ride
A heated altercation between a Rapido auto driver and a woman commuter in Bengaluru has gone viral, sparking fresh debate over language imposition and fare disputes in India’s tech capital. The video, shared widely on social media, shows the driver demanding ₹390 for a ride that was booked at ₹296, and allegedly threatening the passenger for not speaking Kannada.
According to the woman, who posted the incident online, the driver not only overcharged her but also aggressively insisted she speak in Kannada. Feeling unsafe, she called a bystander for help and began recording the interaction, which later gained thousands of views and comments on Instagram.
Dispute Over Fare and Language Turns Hostile
The woman can be heard questioning the driver:
“Why are you getting angry when the app showed ₹296?”
The driver, speaking in Kannada, refuses to back down and raises his voice. The woman tries to defuse the situation by repeatedly asking him to stay calm. Eventually, she informs a nearby man about the situation and tells him that the driver is asking for ₹390 instead of the app-booked fare.
The situation further escalates when the driver reportedly tells her, “If you don’t speak Kannada, don’t talk to me.” The woman responds in English and says she understands what he is saying and that she is recording the entire incident for social media. Toward the end of the 74-second video, the driver tries to justify himself to another man while the woman retorts, “I’ll learn Kannada, but what you’re doing is wrong.”
Online Reaction and Virality
The Instagram reel was posted by user @anyadamnson, who wrote in the caption:
“The driver demanded ₹390 when the app showed ₹296. I refused, and he eventually gave up. He argued only because I didn’t speak Kannada.”
The video has garnered over 200,000 views, 5,000+ likes, and 1,100+ comments, with users debating the issues of local language dominance and safety in ride-hailing services. However, ZEE News has not independently verified the authenticity of the video.
