‘I refused to pay extra Rs 40, then he slapped me’: Mumbai woman’s allegation against 20-year-old Uber driver goes viral; all you need to know

A Mumbai-based content creator's social media posts have drawn widespread attention after she alleged that a disagreement with an Uber driver over an additional payment escalated into a physical confrontation. The woman shared her account of the incident through a series of videos on Instagram, where she also raised concerns about how her complaint was handled by the ride-hailing platform.The videos quickly gained traction online, prompting reactions from social media users and a public response from Uber India. The company later reinstated her account and said it had taken action in accordance with its policies.The incident has since sparked conversations around rider safety, grievance redressal mechanisms, and how ride-hailing platforms respond to complaints involving alleged intimidation or assault.The woman, identified as Shivanii, said the incident took place during an Uber ride from Mahalaxmi to Nerul.According to her, the driver asked her to pay an additional Rs 40 in cash for toll charges apart from the fare displayed on the Uber app. She said the fare shown on the platform was Rs 501 and questioned why she was being asked to make a separate payment outside the application.In the caption accompanying her video, Shivanii wrote: “The fare on the app was Rs 501. The driver demanded an extra Rs 40 – off the app. When I refused, he stepped closer to intimidate me. I pushed back.”According to her, the disagreement then escalated further.Shivanii further alleged that the confrontation turned physical.“What followed was not just an argument. He slapped me. He grabbed and twisted my hand, hurting me. And then said – Phir se maar ke dikhaun kya?” (Should I hit you again?)The allegations quickly gained attention online, with many users reacting to the details shared in the videos.Shivanii also alleged that the driver prevented her from leaving the vehicle during the confrontation.According to her, she immediately contacted members of her office team for assistance. She said colleagues later arrived at the location to help her.Calling attention to the seriousness of the incident, she wrote: “This is not a ‘service issue’. This is a safety issue.”She also tagged Uber India while sharing her experience online.In another video, Shivanii shared screenshots that she claimed showed Uber India initially siding with the driver.She also alleged that her account was blocked following the incident. In addition, she claimed that certain chats had been deleted and questioned how her complaint was handled.As the videos gained attention online, Uber India responded publicly in the comments section.“Safety is our top priority, and any form of physical harm or intimidation has no place on the Uber platform,” the company wrote.Uber also stated that it strongly condemned the driver's alleged actions and had taken appropriate action in accordance with its policies.The company further confirmed that Shivanii's account had been reinstated and said it would continue to provide support as she engaged with law enforcement authorities.Disclaimer: The allegations mentioned in this report are based on claims made publicly by the content creator through her social media posts. The Times of India has not independently verified these allegations and does not endorse the claims made. The driver's version of events was not available at the time of publication.This is a developing story. The Times of India has reached out to the content creator for additional details. The story will be updated if and when responses are received.