Mumbai The case of firing on Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff's car in Juhu has raised a new controversy over the safety and legality of bike-taxi services in Maharashtra. App-cab and auto unions have opened a front against the state government after information came to light that one of the accused arrested from Rajasthan's Kota was linked as a Rapido bike-taxi driver in Andheri.
Maharashtra Labor Sabha has termed Rapido's bike-taxi services as illegal and has demanded immediate suspension of them. The organization has also demanded a high-level administrative inquiry into the entire operation. The union says that if the government does not take immediate action, then a one-day chakka jam and a major agitation will be organized across Maharashtra with the support of auto-rickshaw and cab drivers.
Questions raised on adding driver without verification
Maharashtra Labor Sabha President Dr. Keshav Nana Kshirsagar, while talking to 'Mid-Day', said that the case related to Tiger Shroff has raised serious questions on the legal status, security arrangements and driver verification of app-based bike-taxi services.
He alleged that if drivers are being added to the platform without adequate police and background verification, it could pose a threat to the safety of passengers as well as national security.
The union has also demanded implementation of mandatory digital identity and KYC system for passengers. The organization says that keeping in mind the safety of drivers and travel records, verification of the identity of passengers should also be necessary.
Demand for investigation of Rapido's revenue and tax
Maharashtra Labor Sabha has demanded a joint investigation against the company from the Transport Department and the Income Tax Department. The organization wants Rapido's records of daily rides, total revenue and GST and other taxes paid to the government to be verified.
The union has also demanded an independent tax audit of the company's financial compliance.
Rapido gave clarification – the suspect was not active since October 14
After the controversy escalated, Rapido in his statement expressed relief that Tiger Shroff and his team were safe and promised to cooperate fully in the police investigation.
According to a Rapido spokesperson, the suspect, who was registered as a 'Captain' i.e. driver on the company's platform, was not active on the Rapido platform since October 14.
The company also said that in the gig economy, people are connected to more than one platform. On the day of the incident, the person concerned was not using Rapido as a driver, but as a customer i.e. passenger.
Reiterating the policy of zero tolerance towards violence and criminal activities, Rapido said that the necessary data and other details have been provided to the police for investigation.
9 point demand letter submitted to the government
Maharashtra Labor Sabha has submitted a 9-point demand letter to the state government and the transport department. This includes demands ranging from immediate suspension of Rapido's bike-taxi services to tax audit of the company.
The main demands of the union are:
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Rapido bike-taxi services should be immediately suspended in Maharashtra.
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A high level administrative inquiry should be conducted into the entire operation of the company.
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Mandatory police verification of all bike-taxi drivers should be done.
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Drivers' documents, identity and criminal records should be checked.
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Mandatory digital KYC and identity verification should be implemented for passengers.
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There should be a review of old cases registered against the company, its owners and officers.
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If links with an organized crime syndicate are proven, strict sections like MCOCA should be used against the company or the related network.
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A system should be made to blacklist operators who violate rules.
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Data on accidents, deaths of drivers, complaints related to women's safety and actions taken by the transport department should be made public.
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The details of the company's daily rides, total revenue and tax payments should be brought out and an independent investigation should be conducted by the Income Tax Department and GST authority.
Dr. Kshirsagar has warned that if the government does not take serious action on these demands, there will be agitation by stopping the transport services in entire Maharashtra including Mumbai.
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