Overview
- Lonavala Rural Police confirmed the detention of a suspect identified as Sonya Gupta, with an investigation in progress.
- Police said the November 15 incident followed a ride booked through an online cab app that the victim accepted without knowing it was allegedly a setup.
- The video shows the assailant slapping the driver repeatedly and smashing both front and rear windshields with a stone while the driver pleads for mercy.
- Free Press Journal reported that attackers allegedly searched ride-hailing platforms such as Ola and Uber to lure the driver to the pickup point.
- The footage triggered widespread online calls for strict action and stronger protections for outstation drivers, with drivers saying similar confrontations recur during peak tourist periods.