The founders of the popular bike taxi platform Rapido have been booked by authorities in Nagpur, Maharashtra, following allegations of operating petrol-powered bike taxi services without the necessary state government permissions. The case, registered at Sitabuldi police station, names Rishikesh S R, Pavan Guntupalli, and Aravind Sanka, who are the founders of Roopen Transportation Services Private Limited, the company behind the Rapido app.
RTO Inspection Leads to Complaint
The complaint was officially lodged by Vishal Madhukarrao Bhovte, a Motor Vehicle Inspector from the Nagpur (City) Regional Transport Office (RTO), acting on behalf of the Maharashtra government. The legal action stems from a special enforcement drive conducted by the RTO on June 23 to curb illegal passenger transport.
During this drive, RTO officials reportedly booked a Rapido bike ride from Ravi Bhavan to Priyadarshini Colony for ₹22. The purpose was to verify the service's compliance with transport regulations. Upon inspection at the RTO office, the motorcycle (registration number MH-31/GC-0850) was allegedly found to be a privately registered two-wheeler being used for commercial passenger transport without the required license or permit. Consequently, the vehicle was seized, and legal proceedings were initiated under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Allegations of Unauthorised Operations
The RTO's complaint explicitly states that Rapido has not secured approval from either the Maharashtra government or the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to operate petrol-powered bike taxi services within the state. Authorities allege that the company encouraged private vehicle owners to use their personal two-wheelers for commercial purposes via its platform, a practice that violates existing transport laws.
Furthermore, the complaint highlights concerns that such unauthorized operations could compromise passenger safety and lead to financial losses for the state exchequer by circumventing the established licensing and permit framework.
Legal Sections Invoked
A police official confirmed that the case has been registered under several sections of the law:
- Sections 318(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, including Sections 66, 93, 192A, 193, and 199
- Section 66D of the Information Technology Act
Broader Regulatory Scrutiny
This development adds to the increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by bike taxi platforms across India. Many states are currently debating the legality and operational framework for commercial two-wheeler ride-hailing services, often grappling with the absence of a uniform policy governing the use of privately owned motorcycles for passenger transport. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.