Vadodara: In a disturbing incident last night in the Kalali area of the city, a two-wheeler driver working with the Rapido service tried to assault a 26-year-old woman passenger at an isolated spot. The young woman, who works at a call center in Atladra and resides on Gotri Sevasi Road, raised an alarm and ran for help to save herself. She immediately contacted her colleagues, who rushed to her aid. Atladra police have arrested the Rapido two-wheeler driver, Mahesh Nagin Vaghela (27), and started an investigation.

According to the victim, originally from another state, she had booked Rapido on May 14, and the driver had been regularly picking her up and dropping her off during her duty hours from 5 PM to 1:30 AM. The driver shared his mobile number and instructed her to contact him directly. For three days, whenever she called, he came to pick her up from home or office on his two-wheeler.

Last night, too, when the woman called him around 3 AM, Mahesh Vaghela reached the call center to pick her up. However, while dropping her home, he took a detour from Kalali towards Vicenza Road. When she asked about the route, he claimed it was a shortcut. At an isolated spot, the driver stopped the vehicle and tried to forcibly assault her.

The woman started shouting loudly for help and ran to save her life, after which the accused fled the scene. She called her friends and colleagues, who came to her assistance. Later, the Atladra police registered an FIR and nabbed Mahesh Vaghela. The further probe is ongoing. DeshGujarat