Unknown — Rogue cab driver

Address:

Mumbai City, Maharashtra, 400058

On 5th of december, early in the morning about 2:30 am we boarded a cab near pune railway station registration number mh 04 gd 9472. We were asked to pay rs. 2000 fare in advance, we declined as we normally pay on reaching destination, so after a brief negotiation, we agreed on 50% before and 50% after arrival in mumbai. Then we started the journey, on the way at wakad, the driver (Named maulaali mulla) stopped at a gas station and demanded the remaining 1000 to fuel the vehicle. We declined and told him to use the advance but he refused and started a heated argument almost exchanging blows. At that moment, he started making calls, i don't speak his native language but others that could comprehend say he was calling his friends who they feared might be goons who would come and attack us. So out of fear, my colleagues insisted we pay him the balance and travel peacefully to mumbai. I was reluctant because i suspected this was not the last problem he'd cause us. I knew he could abandon us midway once he has all the money. However we paid him as the rest of the passengers didn't want any trouble, but not before i took photos of his id. The journey proceeded after he refueled with only inr 700 of the 1000 we gave. When we got past panvel in the early morning, he suddenly stopped by the roadside waking us up from our sleep, he then began making threats again unprovoked. First he said that i had abused him and he was taking me to the cops. I refused to budge and told him to bring the police to the vehicle and i was waiting for him. I suspected he wanted to lure us out of the car then he'd get back in and run away. He got out of the car and started making calls and calling some people to the scene again according to the fellow passengers i was traveling with. They soon got agitated or panicked and got out to negotiate with him but he kept upping the ante until a crowd of rickshaw drivers started milling around. He refused to proceed with the journey and eventually, exhausted with the ruckus, the other passengers decided to take their luggage and leave. At that point he even started threatening them not to dare touch their bags. I was of the idea we all go to the police station and file a complaint along with him, but the rest of the passengers refused saying that the police would give us even more trouble. Outnumbered by the decision, we took our bags forcefully out of the vehicle and took a rickshaw to take us the rest of the journey for an extra inr 350 to andheri. My suspicion is that this is the mo this rogue driver in collusion with a crooked agent in pune use to harass and stiff weary, vulnerable passengers traveling to mumbai. I wouldn't wish this mental anguish on anyone and surely hope this complaint will save innocent passengers from this criminal driver.