Mumbai Police apprehended a taxi driver for allegedly scamming an American woman by charging her Rs 18,000 for a mere 400-meter taxi ride near Mumbai International Airport. The incident unfolded when the victim, Argentina Ariano, shared her experience on social media, leading to prompt action by Sahar Police. The accused, identified as Deshraj Yadav, a 50-year-old permit taxi driver from Sahar Village, reportedly took the victim on a detour around Andheri (East) before dropping her at a nearby hotel and demanding the exorbitant fare.
Ariano, who had just arrived in Mumbai from the United States for work, hired the taxi to reach a hotel close to the airport. Instead of a direct journey, the driver allegedly circled the area for about 20 minutes to create the illusion of a longer trip. The victim’s social media post recounting the incident on a platform called X garnered significant attention, with over 1,00,000 views on the same day, sparking outrage among netizens. The post included details of the taxi and the alleged scam.
Prompted by the viral post, Sahar Police launched an investigation into the matter. Despite initial difficulties in reaching the victim, the police took suo motu cognizance and filed a First Information Report (FIR) on January 27, updating it the following day. The case, registered under relevant sections for cheating, led to the swift arrest of Yadav within three hours of FIR registration. The police also seized the taxi, a white Toyota Etios, for further examination as part of the ongoing probe.
Authorities disclosed that the scam involved two individuals, with Yadav in custody while his accomplice, Taufiq Shaikh, remains at large. Efforts are underway to locate and apprehend the absconding suspect. Senior police officials emphasized the role of social media in exposing such incidents and reiterated their commitment to taking stringent action against those exploiting or deceiving tourists. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain if the accused were involved in similar fraudulent activities previously.
In a similar incident in 2024, an Australian NRI businessman was duped by a taxi driver near Mumbai Airport, leading to the driver’s arrest following a complaint. Another case involved an auto-rickshaw driver overcharging a US-based student, resulting in the driver’s arrest by Sahar police. These incidents underscore the vigilance required to prevent exploitation of travelers and the importance of reporting such malpractices promptly.
