Mumbai Taxi Driver Faces Charges After Short Trip Scam
A 50-year-old taxi driver in Mumbai has been arrested for allegedly defrauding an American woman by demanding Rs 18,000 for a mere 400-meter journey near the international airport. The incident, which unfolded on January 12, involved the victim arriving from the United States for work and hiring a cab to reach a nearby five-star hotel.
Authorities identified the suspect as Deshraj Yadav, a permit-holding driver from Sahar Village. Instead of a direct route, Yadav reportedly circled the Andheri East area for about 20 minutes to simulate a longer trip before dropping her off at the hotel and insisting on the inflated payment.
Viral Social Media Post Sparks Investigation
The case gained attention on January 26 when the victim, Argentina Ariano, posted a video on social media detailing the ordeal. Her account quickly amassed over 100,000 views, highlighting the driver’s tactics and including the taxi’s registration number, MH 01 BD 5405.
In her post, Ariano stated: “Landed in Mumbai recently and took a taxi to @HiltonHotels. The driver and another guy took us to an unknown location first, charged us $200 (?18,000), and then dropped us at the hotel which was only 400m away. Taxi No: MH 01 BD 5405 #taxidriver #mumbai #RepublicDay2026 #india.”
Local police at Sahar station launched a probe based on the viral content. Unable to reach Ariano immediately, they filed a First Information Report on January 27, which was amended the next day under Sections 318(4) for cheating and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Arrest and Ongoing Probe
Using the provided vehicle details, officers located Yadav in Sahar Village and impounded the white Toyota Etios involved. He was apprehended just three hours after the FIR and appeared in court, where he was placed in judicial custody.
Investigators revealed a second person, Taufiq Shaikh, assisted in the scheme and remains at large. Efforts to capture him are ongoing, with police examining if the duo has targeted others previously.
Pattern of Overcharging Incidents
This event underscores concerns about exploitation of travelers in Mumbai. Officials emphasized social media’s role in exposing such crimes and vowed firm measures against those preying on visitors.
Similar cases have surfaced recently. On December 24, 2024, a 49-year-old Australian NRI businessman, D Vijay, was overcharged Rs 2,800 for a 10-minute airport-to-hotel ride in Vile Parle, leading to the arrest of driver Vinod Goswami, 32.
Earlier, on December 14, 2024, auto-rickshaw operator Ritesh Kadam, 26, was detained for demanding Rs 3,500 from a 19-year-old US-based student, Vishwajeet Patil from Sangli, despite the meter showing only Rs 106 for the trip to Chembur. Patil had returned to India for a college break and was heading to Dadar station post-arrival.
The investigation continues to uncover potential links to broader patterns of tourist scams.
