HYDERABAD: A 23-year-old cab driver has been arrested for allegedly raping a 37-year-old cabin crew member while she was travelling to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in an office cab to report for duty.
Police said the incident occurred around 2 pm on Monday as the woman was travelling from her residence to the airport. Following her complaint, the RGIA police registered a case and arrested the accused on Tuesday. He was later remanded to judicial custody.
Based on information provided by the complainant, police identified the accused as a resident of the Siddhanti area in Shamshabad.
“We arrested the accused from Shamshabad. During interrogation, he confessed to committing the offence,” said B. Kiran Kumar, Inspector of the RGIA police outpost.
According to investigators, the driver allegedly deviated from the designated route shortly before reaching the airport, telling the passenger that he needed to stop to attend to nature’s call. Believing the explanation, the woman did not object to the detour.
Police alleged that the driver stopped the vehicle near an under-construction international school along a relatively isolated stretch of road. After stepping out of the vehicle, he allegedly returned moments later, opened the rear door and sexually assaulted the woman inside the cab.
Following the alleged assault, the driver fled the scene with the vehicle, leaving the woman behind, police said. She raised an alarm and, with the assistance of a nearby worker, contacted the police.
The woman was subsequently taken to the Bharosa Centre, where she received counselling and support services.
Based on her statement, police registered a case under Section 64 (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). She was also sent for a medical examination as part of the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing.
