IndiGo cabin crew member ‘raped’ in office cab in Hyderabad, driver arrested

The alleged incident occurred at 2.40 pm on July 20, when the woman boarded her office cab to reach the airport and start her shift.

Cab driver diverted airport route, allegedly assaulted airline crew member in Hyderabad. (Photo: Pexels/Enhanced using AI)Cab driver diverted airport route, allegedly assaulted airline crew member in Hyderabad. (Photo: Pexels/Enhanced using AI)

The Hyderabad Police have arrested the driver of a cab service for the alleged rape and assault of an IndiGo cabin crew member at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad. A local court remanded the 23-year-old accused, Errapogu Prashanth Kumar, to judicial custody.

The alleged incident occurred at 2.40 pm on July 20, when the woman boarded her office cab to reach the airport and start her shift. Instead of taking her to the airport, the accused allegedly took her to an isolated place and raped her.

IndiGo said in a statement it was “aware of the matter and understand that it is currently under investigation by the relevant law enforcement agencies”. “We are fully cooperating with the authorities and remain committed to supporting them, as required. During this difficult time, we stand by our colleague and are extending our support to her and her family,” the airline’s spokesperson said.

The woman was travelling a short distance from Shamshabad to the airport, police said. She lodged a complaint with the RGIA Police Outpost, which is right outside the sprawling airport premises, on the very same day. “She approached the police soon after the incident,” RGIA Police Outpost Inspector B Kiran Kumar told The Indian Express. “The suspect also allegedly beat her up, so we have invoked sections for assault too.”

The cab service was being run by a local company under the purview of the airline for which the woman worked. “We have asked the airline to check the safety of the operation of the cab services and the safety precautions that are in place for the transport of women workers,” a police officer.

Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society. Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read More

Sukalp Sharma is a Deputy Associate Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 16 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More

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