Bengaluru Cab Driver Accused Of Misconduct After Mistaking Kombucha For Beer

A 30-year-old woman alleged she was subjected to misconduct and forced to escape from a moving cab after her driver mistook her fermented kombucha beverage for beer on June 21. The incident occurred after the passenger, Sangeetha (name changed), had dinner at a restaurant in Koramangala 5th Block and booked a cab to return to her home in south-east Bengaluru at 9:30 p.m.

According to the complaint filed by the passenger, who is a native of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the journey proceeded normally until the vehicle reached the vicinity of the Indian Christian Cemetery on Hosur Road. At this point in the ride, Sangeetha opened a bottle of kombucha inside the cab.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 60-year-old Parameshwar, reportedly assumed that the passenger was drinking beer and began to question her. The misunderstanding over the fermented beverage quickly escalated into a heated argument between the passenger and the driver inside the vehicle.

As the confrontation grew more intense, Sangeetha requested that the driver stop the cab and end the trip immediately. However, the driver allegedly ignored her pleas and continued to drive the vehicle.

Fearing for her personal safety, Sangeetha opened the car door and attempted to jump out of the moving cab. According to her statement, Parameshwar then grabbed her hand and tried to pull her back inside the vehicle. She eventually managed to break free from his grasp and ran away from the spot, after which the driver drove off.

Following the complaint, the Ashok Nagar police registered a case under Section 74, which pertains to assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

A senior police officer confirmed that the driver has been served a notice as part of the ongoing investigation. However, Parameshwar maintains that the passenger was consuming beer during the ride.