Uber banned in New Delhi after passenger accuses driver of rape
Uber banned in New Delhi after passenger accuses driver of rape
Uber has been under fire from the press lately after a string of startling revelations and PR gaffs. However, the latest and most serious is arguably the news that the capital of India, New Delhi, has just banned Uber from operating after a passenger accused an Uber driver of raping her.
The Delhi Transport Department issued a statement which said, "Keeping in view the above violation and the horrific crime committed by the driver, the Transport Department has banned all activities relating to providing any transport service by the www.Uber.com with immediate effect. The Transport Department has also blacklisted the company from providing any transport service in the NCT of Delhi in future."
The passenger, a 26 year-old female dozed off on a trip and woke up to find herself in a secluded area. The driver then raped her and threatened her life should she go to the authorities. Investigations later revealed that Uber did no background checks on the driver and lacked the state-mandated GPS.
This is the third time this year that an Uber passenger has accused her driver of rape. And while Uber has always been defensive of itself, they were effusive in their sympathies this time round. CEO Travis Kalanick said in a statement, "Our entire team's hearts go out to the victim of this despicable crime. We will do everything, I repeat, everything to help bring this perpetrator to justice and to support the victim and her family in her recovery."
Uber has also said that it will continue to cooperate fully with authorities to bring the crime to justice.
Source: DailyTech, Wall Street Journal