Pune Police books Rapido over unlicensed bike-taxi operations
Pune Police has booked Rapido parent Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd for allegedly running bike-taxi services without the required licence and regulatory approvals, according to an FIR registered at Vishrantwadi police station.
The development was first reported by Times of India. Inc42, which followed up on that report, said it had asked Rapido for comment.
The FIR alleges that the company used its app to facilitate paid passenger rides on two-wheelers registered as non-transport vehicles. The alleged violation came to light when a Pune RTO motor vehicle inspector booked a ride through the Rapido app during an enforcement drive against unauthorised bike-taxi operations.
The action came a day after Pune District Collector and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) chairman Jitendra Dudi directed Rapido to immediately suspend bike-taxi operations across Pune district until it obtained an ebike taxi aggregator licence. Dudi warned that continued operations would invite legal action and said the service would not be allowed to resume without a licence. The FIR also states that the RTO issued the company a notice on Thursday, October 15.
Fare and reporting directions for cab aggregators
At the same meeting, Dudi directed cab aggregators to submit monthly fare data to the district administration. They must also display RTA-approved fares separately on their apps.
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According to Dudi, existing norms require drivers to receive 80% of the RTA base fare. Passenger fares can range from 50% below the base fare to 1.5 times that amount.
The directions followed complaints from auto-rickshaw and cab drivers about underpayment and fares beyond the permitted range.
FIR cites previous regulatory proceedings
The FIR recounts the licence history:
- Rapido's licence application in Pune was rejected in December 2022.
- The Bombay High Court directed the company to stop operating its app in an order in January 2023.
- In February 2023, the Supreme Court disposed of the related petitions. It allowed the company to approach the High Court to challenge Maharashtra's January 2023 notification prohibiting the use of non-transport vehicles for aggregation and ride pooling.
- The Transport Commissioner's Office issued a notice on April 29, 2025, over alleged unauthorised passenger transport through the app.
- According to the FIR, Rapido applied for an aggregator licence with the Transport Commissioner's Office in Mumbai on August 11, 2026. It had not received approval at the time of the incident.
The FIR further alleges inadequate driver background checks, raising concerns about passenger safety, particularly for women.
Source
This brief draws on Inc42's report, Rapido Booked By Pune Police Over Alleged Unauthorised Bike-Taxi Operations. Inc42 attributes the original report to Times of India and had reached out to Rapido for comment.
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