New Delhi: A female journalist working with Republic TV was harassed and trolled by an X user, Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, for objecting to the rude behavior of a cab driver. Reportedly, the journalist had an argument with the driver over the issue of not paying 95 paise. Both the driver and the journalist recorded each otherโs actions.
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โWho is this journalist threatening @Uber_India driver with police action just because he asked her to pay the fare? Please identify her and ask her to travel by bus if she doesnโt want to pay. Also, in public interest, please ask every cab driver you meet to install cameras,โ Deepika posted on X while sharing a video recorded by the cab driver, trolling the journalist without knowing her side of the story.
Who is this Journalist threatening @Uber_India driver of police action just because he asked her to pay the fare ? Plz identify her & ask her to travel in bus if she doesnโt want to pay
Also โ in public interest, please ask every cab driver you meet to install cameras pic.twitter.com/PA9qqdBluJ
โ Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) March 21, 20
Soon after, Shivangi posted all the videos to narrate her version, claiming that she was not at fault and was, in fact, being harassed by the cab driver.
Republic TV reporter Shivangi Shukla also posted a series of updates on X explaining what had happened. To support her claim, she uploaded several videos along with detailed captions.
According to Shivangi, it was the cab driver who began misbehaving with her over a mere 95 paise.
โSince many of you are asking what happened, here it is. Out of ethics, Iโve blurred the @Uber driverโs face. @Uber_India I was traveling back from a desolate area on the outskirts of Noida. I asked the Uber driver to drop me at the exact location mentioned in the app. He rudely refused. So, I proceeded to pay the bill, which was โน129.95. I was in a hurry, so I typed โน129 on UPI, but he insisted on the remaining 95 paise and became aggressive about it,โ Shivangi posted on X.
A thread: Since many of you are demanding what happened, here it is. Out of ethics, Iโve blurred the @Uber Drivers face. @Uber_India
I was travelling back from a desolate and outskirts area of Noida.I asked the Uber driver to drop me at the exact location as mentioned in theโฆโ Shivangi Shukla (@Shivangi_SNews) March 22, 2025
Shivangi further mentioned that the driver was not following the map and started shouting at her. This prompted her to record his behavior on her phone, which made him calm down.
โI was scared. I thought he was trying to kidnap me,โ Shivangi posted on X.
When Shivangi mentioned that she was a journalist and not a rich person, the cab driver started recording on his phone, shouting, โAap patrakar ki dhons de rahe ho!โ He was also heard saying, โNow you dare call yourself a reporter!โ
Shivangi later realized that the cab driverโs photo did not match the one on Uberโs app, which horrified her, making her jump out of the car.
โI realized that the driver was not wearing an Uber uniform, and his face did not match the profile picture in the app. I felt cornered and feared for my safety. Out of self-defense, I took his phone and jumped out of the car,โ she posted on X.
At that point, the cab driver allegedly called a mysterious person who guided him over the phone. Suddenly, his behavior changed, and he apologized to Shivangi.
โI tried to give him the money, but he refused to accept it. He said on camera that he did not want any money and walked away,โ Shivangi posted.
Big Claim by Shivangi:
Shivangi has alleged that the driver was linked to another driver-turned-content creator, Aman Mehandiratta, who runs a syndicate against Uber and its passengers. According to her, Aman believes Uber drivers are harassed and advocates for installing cameras in all cabs.
โBoth this Uber driver and Aman are part of a criminal syndicate trying to hoodwink passengers and Uber. Please check Mr. Amanโs posts on Instagram to understand his agenda,โ Shivangi posted on X, sharing a link to Amanโs Instagram account.
โThis is not about being a journalist. I mentioned it only to gain his sympathy, which he took out of context. This is about safety. I have a voice, but many women donโt. Tomorrow, it could be your loved one in the same situation I faced. This driver syndicate must be exposed,โ she added.
Attempts to contact the driver who allegedly harassed Shivangi were unsuccessful. Uberโs response to the matter is still awaited.
Clarifications and Misconceptions
It is important to note that in the video shared by the driver, there is no mention or discussion related to inappropriate behavior or comments about Ms. Shuklaโs physical appearance. The altercation, as presented, centers solely around the payment dispute. Therefore, any claims or insinuations about the driverโs conduct beyond this context are not substantiated by the available footage.
