Delhi govt bans Uber, accused sent to 3-days police custody

The action came a day after a taxi driver employed by Uber was arrested from Mathura for allegedly raping a 27-year-old woman executive in his cab.

The Delhi government on Monday banned Uber taxi services, after a 27-year-old MNC executive, who used its mobile app to book a cab on Friday, was raped allegedly by the driver.

The driver Shiv Kumar Yadav was sent to police custody for three days on Monday. Yadav, said to be a repeat offender, was arrested from Mathura, about 150 km from Delhi, on Sunday. He was produced in Tis Hazari courts, where police sought his custody for carrying out further probe into the crime that sent shockwaves across the Capital, and exposed the laxity in enforcing laws governing cab services in mega cities like Delhi.

The case took a new twist when a “character certificate,” issued by the Delhi police to the accused driver this August surfaced and was described as “fake” by Police Commissioner B. S. Bassi. It emerged that Shiv Kumar Yadav had spent seven months in jail in 2011 in a rape case, in which he was later acquitted.

The incident also found its echo in the Lok Sabha. “The government strongly condemns this dastardly act. It will be ensured that all necessary steps are taken to bring the offender to justice,” said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a suo motu statement.

PTI adds:

It said the Transport Department has cancelled the permit and registration certificate of the taxi (DL1YD 7910) and driving licence of the accused.

According to the department, the taxi permit was granted on May 28, 2014, after due verification of character and antecedents of the permit holder.

The Government said that Uber, the US-based cab firm, misled the commuter (rape victim) about the nature of the taxi service offered by its App.

Condemning the unfortunate and heinous crime committed by the taxi driver, it also said, “The All India Tourist Permit taxi was provided by M/s. Uber on the request of the commuter through the Uber Web application for a local journey within Delhi which was in contravention of the MV Act, 1988, and rules framed there under.

“M/s Uber also misled the commuter about the nature of the taxi service offered by the ‘Uber App’,” said a senior government official.

The official also said that the government took such a decision keeping in view the violations and the horrific crime committed by the driver.

The shocking incident, which took place days ahead of the second anniversary of the December 16 gang rape, has sparked outrage as it brought back memories of the horrific crime.