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Maharashtra minister Pratap Sarnaik’s ‘sting operation’ revealed illegal bike taxi services; he seeks action against operators, not drivers
Mumbai: Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, under an alias, booked a Rapido bike on Wednesday to test whether the service was still being offered despite it being illegal due to the lack of proper regulations for bike taxis. The biker, unaware of the identity of his customer, rode right into the midst of transport department officials who caught him red handed. However, Sarnaik directed officials not to register a case against the bike driver as he was merely an employee, and instead take action against the company.
On April 1, the state cabinet had issued a draft electric-bike taxi policy saying that only e-bikes which fulfilled the government’s criteria could be used as bike taxis. The policy was to come into play once it was approved in July, but so far, due to the lack of proper regulations, all bike taxis are illegal in the state.
When Sarnaik had asked his department about bike taxis, he was told that they did not exist, however, his ‘sting operation’ proved them wrong. He said, “I want to take action against the app operators and not against the bike owners.” He added that his officers had misled him and he would look into the issue. Sarnaik’s office issued a press release reiterating that no official permission was given for Rapido bikes to begin operating yet.
In another incident, on July 19, the Azad Maidan police had registered a case against Uber and Rapido for running bike taxi services in the states without permissions, after the RTO officials had booked dummy rides on the two platforms and found that private vehicles with white number plates were being used to run commercial services.
The transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, and Rapido did not respond to queries.
In a stunning real-time crackdown on illegal transport operations, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik exposed and halted the functioning of over 25 illegal Rapido bike taxis operating without proper permits in Thane city.
The action, which was caught on camera and has since gone viral on social media, has reignited debates about unregulated bike taxi services, transport law enforcement, and the growing challenge posed by app-based aggregators such as Rapido, Ola Bike, and Uber Moto in Indian cities.
This dramatic intervention by Sarnaik has put the spotlight squarely back on the grey zones of urban mobility—where gig economy jobs meet inconsistent transport laws and lax regulatory frameworks.
The surprise raid took place near Thane Station, one of the busiest commuter points in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Acting on numerous complaints by auto-rickshaw unions and citizens, Sarnaik led a team of local authorities and media to confront Rapido bike riders operating illegally under the guise of public transport.
In a video that quickly went viral, Sarnaik is seen stopping bikes, checking licenses, and questioning riders about their legal permissions to operate commercially.
Shockingly, many riders lacked proper transport permits, vehicle fitness certificates, or commercial insurance, all of which are mandatory for passenger vehicles operating in Maharashtra.
- 25+ Rapido bikes were caught operating illegally.
- 10 bikes were seized on the spot by RTO officials.
- Several Rapido riders fled the location, abandoning passengers.
- Over 50 complaints have been filed in the last two months by Thane’s auto union regarding unauthorized bike taxis.
- An estimated 300+ illegal bike taxis are currently operating in Thane alone.
These numbers highlight not just a single-day bust, but a systemic issue that has plagued urban mobility management.
The Maharashtra government has not yet formally allowed bike taxi services, citing lack of clarity on:
- Passenger safety norms
- Regulatory compliance
- Fair competition with existing legal operators
In 2022, the Maharashtra Transport Department issued a ban on bike taxis, labeling them unauthorized. Yet services like Rapido have continued to operate in a legal loophole, often registering bikes under private licenses, while using them for commercial purposes—an outright violation of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The Supreme Court earlier also commented on the need for state-specific regulation of such services, but many state governments, including Maharashtra, have either remained silent or indecisive.
This surprise action by a prominent political figure has:
- Embarrassed Rapido publicly and put pressure on them to comply with state laws.
- Empowered auto unions and licensed transport operators who have long protested against bike taxi aggregators.
- Put the Transport Department under the scanner, as citizens question how such large-scale violations went unchecked.
- Raised safety concerns for passengers, especially in a city like Thane, where traffic and accident risks are high.
1. Local Auto-Rickshaw Union
Auto union leaders thanked Sarnaik for his bold action. “We pay taxes, renew permits, and follow the rules. These illegal operators eat into our income while facing no legal consequences,” said a union representative.
2. Rapido Spokesperson
While no official statement was released immediately, insiders say Rapido may now suspend operations temporarily in Thane until legal clarity is obtained.
3. Commuters
Public opinion remains divided. While some appreciate the crackdown for enforcing rules, others lament that the shutdown of Rapido services will affect last-mile connectivity and low-cost transport for the middle class.
Many citizens and journalists are now questioning the role of the Maharashtra RTO and Traffic Police. If one MLA could expose this issue in a single day, why had enforcement agencies failed to act?
This raid has intensified pressure on the Transport Department to:
- Issue a clear policy on bike taxis.
- Enforce existing bans more effectively.
- Clarify the legal status of aggregators operating in grey zones.
Founded in 2015, Rapido operates in over 100 Indian cities, offering bike taxi, auto, and delivery services. It became particularly popular in metro cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi, where bike taxis are allowed under state policy. However, in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, legal frameworks remain either absent or unfavourable.
While Rapido claims to empower youth with micro-entrepreneurship opportunities, critics argue that it thrives on regulatory ambiguity, gig exploitation, and zero accountability in many states.
Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, mandates that any vehicle used for commercial transport must have a valid permit. But many Rapido riders use personal registration (white plates) instead of yellow plates (commercial), thereby violating this law.
Despite this, enforcement remains weak. Courts have often had to intervene, asking state governments to either formulate a policy or ban these services outright.
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