The driver of an app cab has been arrested for allegedly outraging the modesty of a passenger who protested when he refused to increase the cooling of the car’s air-conditioner.

The passenger mentioned in her complaint lodged with Jadavpur police station that she had boarded the cab at Ganguly Bagan on Tuesday afternoon and was heading for Gariahat when the alleged incident happened.

The car was near the 8B bus stand in Jadavpur when an altercation broke out between the woman and the driver over the AC.

“The woman had requested the driver to increase the cooling of the air-conditioner but the driver refused. An altercation broke out and the woman asked the driver to stop the car. They were at the 8B bus stand then,” said an officer at Jadavpur police
station.

The woman allegedly tried to get out of the car without making any payment. It was then that the driver allegedly touched her and made objectionable remarks.

The complainant went to Jadavpur police station and reported the matter. An FIR has been drawn against the cab driver.

The passenger gave the cab’s registration number to the driver. That, and footage of CCTV cameras at the 8B bus stand, helped the police zero in on the vehicle. The driver, identified as Lalit Chowpal, 34, was arrested.

Chowpal has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections related to outrage of modesty of a woman and
outrage of modesty of a woman with lewd remarks and gestures.

Chowpal was produced in the Alipore court on Wednesday afternoon.