A group of local taxi drivers in Munnar, Kerala, have been booked after a Mumbai-based tourist alleged that she was harassed while attempting to travel in an online cab. The case was registered by the Munnar police on Sunday after the tourist, identified as Janvi, an assistant professor, shared a video on social media detailing her ordeal.

In the three-minute video, which quickly gained traction online, Janvi described her trip to Munnar as “absolutely breathtaking” but said the harassment she faced while trying to book an Uber made her vow not to visit Kerala again.

According to her account, as she was preparing to leave the hill station, her host warned her that online taxi services like Uber and Ola are not permitted in the area due to opposition from local taxi unions. She nonetheless arranged for an Uber driver to meet her discreetly at another location.

“While we were loading our bags, five or six men suddenly appeared — apparently they had been following us. They started threatening our cab driver, saying he could not take us,” Janvi said in the video.

She claimed that when she sought help from the police, the officers on scene spoke only with the union members and later informed her that she could not use an online cab service. “Everyone was saying you are not allowed to decide who you travel with. You are not allowed to feel safe or exercise your constitutional rights,” she said, adding that officials from Kerala Tourism told her the same.

Police Action

Following the social media uproar, Munnar police registered a suo motu case on November 2 based on the video evidence. The case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) —

• Section 126(2): Wrongful restraint
• Section 135(2): Criminal intimidation
• Section 3(5): Common intention

Police said the incident occurred on October 30 and that they are working to identify all those involved from the video footage. “We are verifying the role of the policemen who were present at the time of the incident,” officials added, noting that efforts are underway to contact Janvi to formally record her statement.

Background: Long-Standing Tension Over Ride-Sharing Apps

The incident has once again drawn attention to the ongoing conflict between local taxi unions and app-based cab aggregators in popular tourist destinations such as Munnar. Local drivers have long resisted the entry of Uber and Ola, arguing that such platforms undercut their fares and threaten their livelihoods.

However, the alleged harassment of a tourist has triggered widespread criticism on social media, with many users questioning why online taxis remain restricted in such major tourist hubs.

The Kerala Tourism Department has not yet issued an official statement, but police said that further action will depend on the outcome of the investigation and the findings regarding the conduct of the officers who responded to the scene.