The directors of Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, which operates the bike taxi service under the Rapido brand, have been booked for allegedly running an illegal aggregator service in Mumbai. The case was filed after six regional transport office officers from Mumbai booked Rapido bike taxis and found that services were being offered without proper permits.
The FIR was registered at the Amboli police station based on a complaint by Harshal Sose, an inspector at the Mumbai West RTO in Andheri. A police officer stated, “We have registered a case against the directors of Rapido under sections 223 (disobedience of lawful orders issued by public servants) and 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with applicable sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.”
The issue gained momentum after Maharashtra transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar directed a crackdown on bike taxis across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The move followed a surprise check by state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, who booked a Rapido ride under an alias from Mantralaya to Dadar to expose ongoing illegal operations.
Though the state has recently legalised bike taxis, only electric two-wheelers with commercial yellow number plates and valid licences are allowed. These rules were based on recommendations by a state-appointed committee to ensure passenger safety and prevent unauthorised pooling. Despite this, companies like Rapido have reportedly continued operating without following the regulations.
On April 29, Rapido was issued a notice to stop its bike taxi services. Yet, following the commissioner’s recent order, RTO officers were sent to book rides and gather evidence. On July 16, six officers booked rides in Andheri and confirmed that bike taxis were still running without the required permits. Based on these findings, a case was filed against Rapido’s directors.
Sources reached out to Rapido for a statement, but no response was received at the time of reporting.
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