Women still experience harassment that jeopardises their safety and independence, despite tremendous advancements in gender equality. This harsh reality was brought to light once again by a disturbing incident involving a female lawyer and an Uber driver. The incident has gone viral, raising significant concerns about rider safety and corporate accountability in India’s ride-hailing services.
An Uber Driver Harassed a Female Lawyer, and the Company’s Response Infuriated Her
Tanya Sharma, a lawyer based in Delhi-NCR, recently shared a traumatic experience she had while using Uber. After booking a ride, she informed the assigned driver, Jitendra Kumar, that she would be five minutes late. To her shock, the driver responded with an inappropriate and disturbing message:
“Jaldi aao babu yaar, man ho rha hai.”
Shocked and distressed by the driver’s behaviour, Tanya immediately cancelled the ride and filed a complaint with Uber. However, instead of receiving prompt and decisive action, she was met with what she described as a “generic and empathetic” response that failed to address the seriousness of the situation.
Disappointed With Uber’s Grievance Response, Tanya Took to Social Media
Frustrated by the lack of accountability from Uber, Tanya decided to share her experience on social media. She posted screenshots of the offensive messages and criticised Uber India’s inadequate redressal process. Her post resonated with many, especially women who had faced similar experiences.
In her post, Tanya wrote:
“We live in the 21st century, and still, things are so pathetic and traumatic for people daily that even an auto driver can harass you in broad daylight… in one of the poshest areas of the city. I booked an Uber, and within five minutes, I started getting disturbing texts. I canceled the booking and filed a complaint, but Uber India’s grievance redressal process seems to involve sending a sympathetic message to the victim and then forgetting about it. Is this how it works?”
Tanya Sharma Questions Uber’s 48-Hour Complaint Resolution Policy
Tanya further questioned Uber’s policy of taking up to 48 hours to respond to such complaints. She highlighted how critical those hours could be, especially if other women were at risk from the same driver.
“What if this same thing happened to other women during these so-called 48 hours of your policy? Are you ready to take responsibility for my safety and the safety of those women out there?” she wrote.
Her brave decision to raise her voice publicly led to her post going viral across social platforms, receiving thousands of shares and comments.
Here Is How Netizens Reacted
The online community was outraged. Many users expressed their anger and disappointment with Uber’s initial response. Others shared their own uncomfortable and traumatic experiences while using the platform. The widespread support made it clear that Tanya’s experience was not isolated and echoed the concerns of many others.
Uber Suspends Driver After Public Outcry
Faced with widespread backlash and mounting pressure, Uber finally took strong action. The ride-hailing giant permanently banned Jitendra Kumar from its platform. Tanya Sharma confirmed the action in a follow-up post and expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her.
She wrote about the collective strength and shared experiences that led to this outcome, highlighting that “this wouldn’t have been possible without all the voices that stood by me.”
Although Tanya felt somewhat relieved that the driver would no longer pose a threat to others, she reiterated the importance of raising such issues publicly to push for safer and more accountable services for women in India.
A Wake-Up Call for Safety and Accountability
This incident is a grim reminder of the persistent challenges women face even in day-to-day tasks like booking a cab. Tanya Sharma’s courageous stance not only brought justice in her case but also reignited the conversation about the urgency of safety reforms and responsible corporate practices in ride-hailing services.
Going forward, companies like Uber must ensure that their grievance redressal systems are swift, responsive, and action-oriented—because when safety is compromised, so is trust.