23-year-old Errapogu Prashant Kumar, accused of rape, has been arrested
A 37-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of her airline’s official cab in Hyderabad, Telangana, while travelling to work, police said.
According to the Times of India, the woman was travelling to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). Police have arrested the 23-year-old accused driver.
Driver changed route while going from Shamshabad to the airport
According to the police, the incident took place on July 20. The woman boarded the official cab provided by the airline to go from Shamshabad to the airport at around 2:40 PM.
The cab was supposed to go to the airport via the designated route, but the driver changed the route and took her to a secluded spot near an under-construction site close to the airport.
Shamshabad ACP V Srikanth Goud said that the accused driver initially told the woman that he was going out to use the toilet. The driver returned two-three minutes after getting out of the car. He entered through the car’s back door and raped the woman.
Victim pushed accused, cried for help
Investigating officials stated that the victim resisted the attack and tried to save herself. After some time, she gathered courage and managed to push the accused.
She immediately opened the car door, got out, and cried for help from a laborer working nearby. Seeing the victim scream, the accused driver panicked and immediately fled the scene with the cab.
FIR filed at Airport Police Outpost, accused in custody
Immediately after the incident, the victim reached the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Police Outpost and filed a complaint. Based on the woman’s statement, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (such as sections for rape and assault) and initiated an investigation.
Accused Errapogu Prashanth arrested, sent to jail
The police’s special team tracked and arrested the accused the very next day, i.e., July 21. The accused has been identified as Errapogu Prashanth Kumar, a resident of Rangareddy district, Telangana.
The accused confessed to his crime during interrogation. The local court has sent the accused to judicial custody.
Cab service was provided by a local travel agency, notice issued to airline
It has come to light during the investigation that the concerned cab service was being operated by a local transport agency. The airline had given it a contract to transport its employees to and from the airport.
