FPJ Ground Check: Rapido Continues Bike Taxi Rides In Pune Despite Collector's Order; FIR Registered Against Company

Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi had ordered the immediate suspension of two-wheeler aggregator services, Rapido, until proper government and Regional Transport Office (RTO) licenses were obtained. Despite this directive, Rapido continued ferrying passengers in various parts of the city on Friday night, as confirmed by a ground check conducted by The Free Press Journal.

One anonymous Rapido rider revealed that they continued working after regular working hours to financially support themselves, stating that despite the lack of government authorization, the opportunity to earn additional income was crucial. When the app halted the service, the rider also stated they would stop, but until then, the additional earnings helped cover their daily expenses.

The collector had warned of legal action if the company operated without authorization. The police registered an FIR at Vishrantwadi Police Station on Oct 16, 2026, against Rapido's operator, Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, for operating bike taxis without the required permits and authorizations. The FIR listed multiple sections from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Information Technology Act, 2000, as grounds for the complaint.