Pune: Cab Driver Caught Masturbating in Moving Car, Woman Passenger Files Complaint
Khadki, 25th February 2025: A 20-year-old cab driver was arrested by Khadki police on Sunday after a woman software engineer accused him of sexually harassing her while she was commuting home. The incident took place on February 21 around 7:30 PM along Sangamwadi Road.
According to police officials, the woman, a 41-year-old employee of a Kalyaninagar-based IT firm, had booked a cab through a popular ride-hailing app for her journey to Pimple Saudagar. As the vehicle moved along Sangamwadi Road towards Patil Estate Chowk, she noticed the driver adjusting the rear-view mirror in an unusual manner.
“The woman reported that the driver was masturbating while making eye contact with her through the rear-view mirror,” said Inspector Gajanan Chormale of Khadki police station. “She was shocked and deeply disturbed by his actions.”
The woman quickly exited the cab at a traffic signal near Khadki and proceeded directly to the police station to file a complaint. “Upon receiving the report, we immediately launched a search for the suspect,” Chormale added.
The accused, identified as Sumit Kumar, hails from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, and had recently relocated to Pimpri Chinchwad from Mumbai. “After dropping the woman off, he had driven a short distance before abandoning the vehicle on the highway and attempting to flee,” Chormale explained.
Using booking records and the vehicle’s registration details, the police tracked down the cab owner, which led to the driver’s arrest.
A case has been registered against Kumar under sections 74 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 79 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
