Delhi Police to Scrutinise Ride-Hailing Apps After Driver’s Criminal Past Revealed in Minor’s Rape and Murder

Delhi Police is set to investigate the onboarding procedures of three app-based ride aggregators following the arrest of Bashu Kumar Singh, who is accused of abducting, raping, and murdering an 11-year-old girl. Singh, 29, worked for these platforms, raising questions about the effectiveness of driver background checks.

Police officials confirmed that Singh has a criminal history with five cases registered against him in Bihar—three for physical assault and two for attempted murder. Despite this, he was able to work for multiple ride-hailing services. A senior officer stated, “Given that he has worked for three ride-hailing apps, we will investigate how Bashu managed to pass the screening process of these companies despite a criminal background.”

To understand the verification process, The Hindu spoke to several app-based drivers. Dilip, a bike taxi driver from Mehrauli, claimed that registration requires only an Aadhaar card and a driving licence. “It only takes minutes to create a profile,” he said. Mahesh, a cab driver from Hauz Khas, noted that companies do verify location and identity through periodic selfies, but added that these measures do not include a thorough criminal background check.

According to their websites, many ride-hailing applications use third-party vendors for background checks. However, there is currently no legal mandate for these companies to verify drivers with the police, another officer acknowledged.

The case has reignited debates about passenger safety and regulatory loopholes in the gig economy. With no mandatory verification laws, companies operate on self-regulation, leaving room for individuals with criminal records to slip through.