Ahmedabad Police Book Cab Driver for Using Fake Hindu Name, Another Man’s Photo on Ola App

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Cyber Cell has registered a case against a cab driver identified as Irshad, Manoj Chaturvedi alias Ankush Bodyguard, and others for allegedly creating a fake driver profile on a ride-hailing platform using a fake Hindu name, another driver’s photograph and a different vehicle registration number.

The alleged identity mismatch meant that passengers booking the cab would see the name ‘Deepak’, along with a vehicle registration number beginning with GJ-12, while Irshad would arrive in a red Maruti Swift Dzire bearing a GJ-27 registration number, raising concerns over passenger safety.

According to the FIR, the case came to light on October 7, when taxi driver Ranjitsinh Keshavlal (49), a resident of Memnagar, reached Terminal 2 of Ahmedabad airport to pick up a passenger. He was informed that another driver near the Airport Circle bus stand was using his photograph on an Ola account.

Keshavlal, who has been driving taxis for 18 years and is registered with multiple ride-hailing platforms, confronted the driver along with other taxi operators. On checking the man’s mobile phone, they allegedly found multiple vehicle profiles registered on Ola. One of them carried Keshavlal’s photograph under the name ‘Deepak’, along with vehicle registration number GJ-12-CT-4747 and a driving licence number belonging to another person.

However, Irshad was allegedly driving a red Maruti Swift Dzire bearing registration number GJ-27-TD-6916. When questioned, he claimed that the mobile phone belonged to his employer, Manoj Chaturvedi, and that he was using it to secure bookings for his employer’s vehicle.

The taxi drivers alerted the police through the 112 emergency helpline and were taken to the Airport police station. Keshavlal was subsequently directed to approach the Cyber Cell, where he lodged a formal complaint. The Cyber Cell registered the case on Thursday.

The complaint has also highlighted the alleged use of GPS-spoofing applications by some cab drivers to manipulate their locations and gain an advantage in securing airport bookings. Such applications can make ride-hailing platforms show drivers as being near high-demand pickup points even when their vehicles are elsewhere.

Keshavlal alleged that drivers discuss these applications in online groups, with some paying between Rs 1,500 and Rs 5,000 a month to use them to secure more rides.

The alleged practice has raised concerns over passenger safety, particularly for women and senior citizens travelling alone, as discrepancies between the driver’s identity and the vehicle details displayed on an app could make verification difficult and complicate investigations in the event of an incident.

The Cyber Cell is investigating the alleged misuse of the complainant’s photograph, the creation of fake driver profiles, the registration of multiple vehicle IDs and the suspected use of GPS-spoofing applications. DeshGujarat