Driver abducted, wife forced to strip on video call

Bengaluru: Two of the four persons who abducted and robbed an Ola driver have been arrested. The gang allegedly made his wife strip during a video call and blackmailed him with the recorded images. Adugodi police arrested Arun and Robin with the help of the customer details on the taxi-hailing app. The hunt is on for the other two who took part in the crime that took place last Friday.

The four had booked the taxi from Adugodi to Dommasandra on November 30 and assaulted the driver when they were passing through a deserted area. They took his ATM card and withdrew Rs 9,000 and reached Ramanagara, 53 km away. They then called up the driver's brother-in-law and asked him to deposit money. As the latter deposited Rs 22,000 in the victim's account, the gang withdrew that money too. Later blindfolding the driver, they took him to a lodge at Channapatna, 62 km from Bengaluru. There they video-called the driver’s wife, asked her to strip and recorded the video. They also threatened him that they will circulate the video over internet if if more money is not given.

The driver managed to escape through the window of the lodge and approached Channapatna police but was asked to file a complaint in Bengaluru. A cop accompanied him till Bengaluru for his safety.

The accused have been charged with abduction, robbery, threatening, and outraging the modesty of a woman. The police said they will add charges under the IT Act too. Ola said that the company will provide all support to the driver and his family.