Demand Justice for Ankit Kumar – Revoke Rapido’s Unfair Ban.
The Issue
Online Petition: Demand Justice for Ankit Kumar – Revoke Rapido’s Unfair Ban and Refer Casteist Remarks to Police
To:
The Board of Directors / Leadership of Rapido (Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited)
Aravind Sanka (Co-Founder & CEO), Pavan Guntupalli (Co-Founder), Rishikesh SR (Co-Founder), and the Grievance Officer
Subject: Urgent Demand to Immediately Revoke the 99 Years 11 Months Suspension of Driver Ankit Kumar (Lucknow), Revisit the Decision After Hearing His Side, and Refer the Alleged Casteist Remarks by Passengers to the Police for Investigation
We, the undersigned citizens, users of ride-hailing platforms, drivers’ rights supporters, and advocates of equality and dignity under the Constitution of India, strongly condemn and petition against Rapido’s reported action of suspending the account of Ankit Kumar (also referred to as Amit Kumar in some reports), a 30-year-old Dalit cab driver from Lucknow’s PGI area, for “99 years and 11 months.”
Verified Facts of the Incident (as widely reported)
On or around 11–12 August 2026 (Monday morning), Ankit Kumar, a mechanical engineering diploma holder who drives a cab to support his family as the sole earner, picked up four passengers (reportedly Indian Railways employees/officials) from Utrahtia railway station in Lucknow for a ride to Charbagh railway station.
According to Ankit Kumar’s statements and a circulating video of the confrontation: The passengers were criticising a senior officer (also reportedly from the Dalit community). When they allegedly began repeatedly using casteist slurs and linking the officer’s competence/abilities to his caste, Ankit objected. He asked them to stop, stating that if they had a problem with a person they should name the individual rather than defame an entire community. When they continued, he stopped the cab near Telibagh market and asked them to deboard.
Ankit has publicly stated he had no personal dispute with the passengers and acted solely against the alleged casteist remarks.
The passengers later complained to Rapido. The company suspended Ankit’s driver account for 99 years and 11 months without hearing his version of events. Ankit has repeatedly said the company did not contact him before taking this extreme action.
The suspension has severely affected his livelihood. A video of the confrontation went viral on social media, and Ankit has also reported receiving abusive/threatening messages afterward.
These details have been reported by multiple outlets including The Times of India, Siasat, The Observer Post, Madhyamam, and others (based on Ankit’s own videos and statements). Note: While Ankit’s account and the video form the primary public record, some counter-claims have appeared online questioning aspects of the narrative; a fair investigation is therefore essential.
Why This Action by Rapido Is Unacceptable
It effectively punishes a driver for standing up against alleged caste-based discrimination and verbal abuse inside his own vehicle.
It denies natural justice by suspending him for nearly a century without seeking or considering his side.
Casteist remarks, if proven, can attract provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and related IPC sections. Platforms have a responsibility not only to protect passengers but also to protect drivers from harassment and to not become enablers of discrimination by silencing those who object to it.
Such an extreme, one-sided ban sends a dangerous message that drivers must tolerate casteist (or other abusive) behaviour or risk losing their livelihood.
Our Demands
We urge the Rapido leadership and Board to:
Immediately revoke / lift the 99 years 11 months suspension of Ankit Kumar’s driver account and reinstate him pending a fair inquiry.
Conduct a proper, transparent internal review that includes giving Ankit a full opportunity to present his side, examining the available video evidence, and speaking to all parties.
Refer the incident of alleged casteist remarks by the four passengers to the concerned police station in Lucknow for independent investigation under applicable laws (including the SC/ST (PoA) Act if the facts so warrant). Rapido should cooperate fully with any such police inquiry.
Issue a public clarification on the company’s policy regarding drivers who object to casteist, communal, or other abusive remarks by passengers, and ensure future disciplinary actions follow due process and natural justice for both captains and customers.
Provide interim support to Ankit (e.g., temporary relief or priority reactivation) given that he is the sole earner for his family and the ban has already caused financial hardship.
Rapido markets itself as a platform that creates livelihoods and serves millions. True responsibility includes protecting the dignity of its driver-partners and not allowing alleged caste discrimination to go unaddressed while punishing the person who objected to it.
We request a written response and concrete action within 7 days of this petition gaining significant signatures / public attention. Failure to act fairly will only deepen public distrust in the platform’s commitment to equality and justice.
Sign this petition to stand with Ankit Kumar and demand that no driver should lose their livelihood for refusing to tolerate casteist remarks.
1,921
The Issue
Online Petition: Demand Justice for Ankit Kumar – Revoke Rapido’s Unfair Ban and Refer Casteist Remarks to Police
To:
The Board of Directors / Leadership of Rapido (Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited)
Aravind Sanka (Co-Founder & CEO), Pavan Guntupalli (Co-Founder), Rishikesh SR (Co-Founder), and the Grievance Officer
Subject: Urgent Demand to Immediately Revoke the 99 Years 11 Months Suspension of Driver Ankit Kumar (Lucknow), Revisit the Decision After Hearing His Side, and Refer the Alleged Casteist Remarks by Passengers to the Police for Investigation
We, the undersigned citizens, users of ride-hailing platforms, drivers’ rights supporters, and advocates of equality and dignity under the Constitution of India, strongly condemn and petition against Rapido’s reported action of suspending the account of Ankit Kumar (also referred to as Amit Kumar in some reports), a 30-year-old Dalit cab driver from Lucknow’s PGI area, for “99 years and 11 months.”
Verified Facts of the Incident (as widely reported)
On or around 11–12 August 2026 (Monday morning), Ankit Kumar, a mechanical engineering diploma holder who drives a cab to support his family as the sole earner, picked up four passengers (reportedly Indian Railways employees/officials) from Utrahtia railway station in Lucknow for a ride to Charbagh railway station.
According to Ankit Kumar’s statements and a circulating video of the confrontation: The passengers were criticising a senior officer (also reportedly from the Dalit community). When they allegedly began repeatedly using casteist slurs and linking the officer’s competence/abilities to his caste, Ankit objected. He asked them to stop, stating that if they had a problem with a person they should name the individual rather than defame an entire community. When they continued, he stopped the cab near Telibagh market and asked them to deboard.
Ankit has publicly stated he had no personal dispute with the passengers and acted solely against the alleged casteist remarks.
The passengers later complained to Rapido. The company suspended Ankit’s driver account for 99 years and 11 months without hearing his version of events. Ankit has repeatedly said the company did not contact him before taking this extreme action.
The suspension has severely affected his livelihood. A video of the confrontation went viral on social media, and Ankit has also reported receiving abusive/threatening messages afterward.
These details have been reported by multiple outlets including The Times of India, Siasat, The Observer Post, Madhyamam, and others (based on Ankit’s own videos and statements). Note: While Ankit’s account and the video form the primary public record, some counter-claims have appeared online questioning aspects of the narrative; a fair investigation is therefore essential.
Why This Action by Rapido Is Unacceptable
It effectively punishes a driver for standing up against alleged caste-based discrimination and verbal abuse inside his own vehicle.
It denies natural justice by suspending him for nearly a century without seeking or considering his side.
Casteist remarks, if proven, can attract provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and related IPC sections. Platforms have a responsibility not only to protect passengers but also to protect drivers from harassment and to not become enablers of discrimination by silencing those who object to it.
Such an extreme, one-sided ban sends a dangerous message that drivers must tolerate casteist (or other abusive) behaviour or risk losing their livelihood.
Our Demands
We urge the Rapido leadership and Board to:
Immediately revoke / lift the 99 years 11 months suspension of Ankit Kumar’s driver account and reinstate him pending a fair inquiry.
Conduct a proper, transparent internal review that includes giving Ankit a full opportunity to present his side, examining the available video evidence, and speaking to all parties.
Refer the incident of alleged casteist remarks by the four passengers to the concerned police station in Lucknow for independent investigation under applicable laws (including the SC/ST (PoA) Act if the facts so warrant). Rapido should cooperate fully with any such police inquiry.
Issue a public clarification on the company’s policy regarding drivers who object to casteist, communal, or other abusive remarks by passengers, and ensure future disciplinary actions follow due process and natural justice for both captains and customers.
Provide interim support to Ankit (e.g., temporary relief or priority reactivation) given that he is the sole earner for his family and the ban has already caused financial hardship.
Rapido markets itself as a platform that creates livelihoods and serves millions. True responsibility includes protecting the dignity of its driver-partners and not allowing alleged caste discrimination to go unaddressed while punishing the person who objected to it.
We request a written response and concrete action within 7 days of this petition gaining significant signatures / public attention. Failure to act fairly will only deepen public distrust in the platform’s commitment to equality and justice.
Sign this petition to stand with Ankit Kumar and demand that no driver should lose their livelihood for refusing to tolerate casteist remarks.
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Petition created on 16 August 2026