Mumbai, January 31, 2026 – In a swift crackdown that underscores the growing role of social media in exposing tourist fleecing, Mumbai Police have arrested a 50-year-old cab driver accused of charging an American woman an astonishing Rs 18,000 for what should have been a quick 400-metre hop from the international airport to a nearby hotel.
The accused, Deshraj Yadav, a resident of Sahar Village near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, was taken into custody earlier this week after the victim went public with her ordeal on social media. Police sources said Yadav allegedly picked up the woman shortly after her arrival in the city on January 12 and, instead of heading straight to her destination – the Hilton Mumbai International Airport hotel – detoured through Andheri East for around 20 minutes, even stopping at an unfamiliar spot with an accomplice before demanding the exorbitant fare.
The tourist, identified in reports as Argentina Ariano, who was visiting India for work, later vented her frustration online. In a post that quickly gained traction, she described how the driver and another man pressured her into paying $200 (approximately Rs 18,000) before finally dropping her off at the hotel, just a stone’s throw from where she had been picked up. She included the taxi’s registration number and tagged city authorities, sparking widespread anger over yet another incident tarnishing Mumbai’s image as a tourist-friendly metropolis.
Acting on the viral complaint, Sahar Police registered a case on their own initiative and tracked down Yadav within hours using the vehicle details. His white Toyota Etios has been impounded, and officials have begun proceedings to revoke his driving licence. An FIR has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating and criminal intimidation. Investigators are also hunting for a second suspect believed to have assisted in the scam.
“This kind of behaviour is unacceptable, especially when it involves visitors who come here trusting our hospitality,” a senior officer from Sahar Police told reporters, declining to be named as the probe continues. “We responded immediately because such incidents can damage the city’s reputation. We’re checking if this was a one-off or part of a pattern.”
The episode has reignited concerns about rogue operators preying on unsuspecting arrivals at one of India’s busiest gateways. Just last month, police arrested drivers in separate cases for overcharging an Australian businessman and a US-based student, showing that authorities are under pressure to clean up the airport taxi ecosystem.
Tourist safety advocates welcomed the arrest but called for stronger measures, including better regulation of pre-paid counters and wider promotion of app-based rides. For now, the quick police response has offered some reassurance to travellers landing in the maximum city – a reminder that in the age of instant sharing, scammers can no longer count on getting away unnoticed.
The investigation remains ongoing, with efforts to contact the complainant for a formal statement.
