BluSmart To Step Up Safety Protocols After Driver Allegedly Robbed Passenger At Gunpoint

A cab driver working with EV cab hailing startup BluSmart was arrested for allegedly robbing a passenger of INR 55,000, while holding the woman and her son at gunpoint.

The incident took place yesterday (December 2), following which a case was reportedly registered at Kherki Daula police station and the accused Sonu Singh was arrested.

“Following this unfortunate event, the company promptly cooperated with law enforcement authorities, providing necessary details and assisting in the search, which led to the driver’s arrest within 24 hours,” BluSmart said in a statement in connection to the incident. The Delhi NCR-based company claims to be strengthening its safety protocols by including additional training for driving partners and enhanced technology solutions.

“We are taking immediate steps to further strengthen our safety protocols, including additional training for our driver-partners and enhanced technology solutions,” the company said.

BluSmart’s founder Anmol Jaggi said,“ I am heartbroken and deeply disturbed by a recent incident where a BluSmart rider and their child were robbed. This is a grave violation of trust, and it pains me to see such an event happen, especially when we’ve dedicated 5+ years to building a safe and reliable mobility solution.”

Founded by Anmol Jaggi and Punit K Goyal in 2019, BluSmart facilitates EV ride-hailing services and charging infrastructure across Delhi NCR and Bengaluru. The startup currently operates over 7,300 EVs and aims to increase the fleet size to 10,000 by end of this year.

In July, the company raised INR 200 Cr in a Pre-Series B funding round from responsAbility Investments AG, Sumant Sinha, MS Dhoni Family Office, and BluSmart founders.to expand its operations and build EV charging infrastructure and assets in the mega cities of India.

The company posted a 102% jump in its annual run rate (ARR) of more than INR 500 Cr, in the financial year ended in March 2024. BluSmart also claims to have touched revenue of more than INR 390 Cr in the financial year ending on March 31, 2024, a significant increase from INR 160 Cr in FY23. However, the company is yet to file its audited financials for FY24.

On the safety front, cab-hailing giants like Ola, Uber and Rapido have also been reported with several such cases in the past few years.

In October, the Karnataka High Court ordered Ola’s parent entity ANI Technologies to pay a compensation of INR 5 Lakh to a woman who was allegedly sexually harassed by one of its cab drivers in 2018. 

Last year, CCTV caught a woman leapt off a moving bike to avoid an alleged molestation bid by a Rapido driver in Bengaluru.

In 2022, a Rapido bike driver allegedly raped a 22-year-old female passenger from Kerala in Bengaluru.