Mumbai Police have arrested a taxi driver for allegedly cheating an American woman by charging Rs 18,000 for a distance of just 400 metres. The accused has been identified as 50-year-old Deshraj Yadav.
According to the police, the incident took place on January 12, when the woman arrived in Mumbai from the United States. She hired a taxi from the international airport to a nearby five-star hotel. Instead of taking a direct route, the driver reportedly drove her around the Andheri (East) area for about 20 minutes before dropping her off in front of the hotel.
The driver then demanded an exorbitant fare of Rs 18,000. The woman also mentioned that another person accompanied the driver and assisted in the scam.
The case came to light after the victim, Argentina Arieno, shared her experience on the social media platform X on January 26. She posted a video revealing the taxi’s registration number, which quickly went viral, garnering over one lakh views. Many users tagged the police and demanded action.
Though direct contact with the woman was not possible, Sahar Police took cognizance of the matter on January 27 and registered a case. Within three hours, the accused driver was tracked down and arrested. The investigation revealed that the driver deliberately took a longer route to cheat the passenger.
This is one among several reported cases of tourist cheating in Mumbai. Police have assured strict action against such offences and urged foreign tourists to always use meter-based taxis, app-based cabs, or official prepaid taxi services.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
