Cab driver held for holding family hostage in car while trying to evade police in Noida

A purported video of the incident, which took place on Thursday, has gone viral on social media.

The police have identified the accused as Nasim, a resident of Palwal in Haryana, who was registered as a driver on a ride-hailing app under the name ‘Sonu’.

“He was trying to evade the traffic police to avoid paying a fine. He was also carrying two Aadhaar cards, including  a fake one, and didn’t want to get caught,” said Phase 3 Station House Officer Dhruv Bhushan.

Police said the incident took place when Nasim picked up a family from Noida’s Sector 119 in a WagonR with a Haryana number plate. Instead of following the designated route, police said, he allegedly took a detour and suddenly resorted to speeding.

A purported clip shows the family pleading with him to stop the vehicle. “Please stop the car, the child is scared,” the parents can be heard saying in the clip.

The driver can be heard telling them that he could get “caught” if he stopped.

The family was eventually dropped off near TP Nagar intersection, after which the driver allegedly fled the spot, said police.

“The Phase 3 police station has taken immediate action and arrested the cab driver. The vehicle has been challaned and seized. A case has been registered regarding the incident, and necessary legal action is being taken,” said DCP (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy.

Police said that two Aadhaar cards — one in Nasim’s name and another in the name of ‘Sonu’ — have been recovered from the car.

Nasim, who studied till Class 10, has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to rash driving, defrauding and cheating by personation, as well as forgery of official documents.