Mumbai: Cabbie held for dumping NCP MLA midway after quarrel

Raju Karemore. File Pic

A driver affiliated with Ola was apprehended by the Vakola police in Mumbai on charges of intimidating and leaving an NCP MLA stranded during a trip due to a dispute over toll payment at the Bandra Worli Sea Link. NCP MLA Raju Karemore filed an FIR with the Vakola police, invoking Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and pertinent sections of the Motor Vehicle Act. Subsequently. The driver was arrested, presented in the courtand granted bail.

Karemore, an NCP MLA representing the Tumsar constituency in Bhandara district, Maharashtra, provided a statement to the police. According to his statement, he arrived at Mumbai international airport from Delhi on September 6 around 7:30 am, booked a cab through Ola and got into the cab from the Ola station at T2. Karemore's destination was the Aakashwani MLA guest house in Colaba.

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The cab arrived around 8 am, and en route, Karemore informed the Ola cab driver that he is an MLA and that the driver should take the VIP lane at the Bandra Worli Sea Link, where toll is not charged to MLAs. The driver refused and argued with Karemore, insisting on charging the full toll amount.

"I repeatedly emphasised that if the toll booth agents requested payment, I would cover the expenses, but he remained unresponsive. I took note of the car owner's contact and called him, identifying myself as an MLA and explaining my request for the driver to take the toll-free lane. Despite these efforts, the driver persisted in ignoring my instructions and eventually left me near Vakola junction. He not only collected the fair but also made a menacing threat, vowing to harm me by breaking my legs and hands before departing," Karemore said in his statement to police

Following the complaint, Vakola police arrested the OLA driver. "He was arrested and presented before the court and was later granted bail," said Prakash Khandekar, senior police inspector, Vakola police.