Mumbai Crime: American Tourist Duped of ₹18,000 in 400-Metre Airport Taxi Ride, Driver Arrested

The Sahar Police arrested a taxi driver on January 28 for allegedly cheating an American citizen by charging an exorbitant fare of Rs 18,000 for a journey of barely 400 metres near Mumbai International Airport. The accused has been identified as Yashraj Yadav, also known as Papuu, aged 50. Police officials confirmed that the vehicle used in the incident has been seized and the accused has been placed in judicial custody. Investigators revealed that two individuals were involved in the alleged fraud. While Yadav has been arrested, his accomplice, identified as Taufiq Shaikh, remains absconding and is currently being traced by the police.

The incident came to public attention after the American national, Argentina Ariano, shared her experience on social media, alleging that she was scammed by a taxi driver soon after landing in Mumbai. The post quickly went viral and prompted swift action from the authorities. According to police officials, Ariano had arrived in India for professional reasons. The incident occurred on January 12, shortly after midnight, when she hired a taxi from the airport. She alleged that instead of taking her directly to the nearby hotel, the driver misled her and charged an unreasonable amount for the short trip.

As per the complaint shared online, the taxi driver allegedly took Ariano on a 20-minute drive through Andheri East, only to return to the same area and drop her at a hotel located just 400 metres from the airport. Despite the minimal distance, she was charged Rs 18,000 for the ride. Nearly two weeks later, on January 26, Ariano detailed the incident on social media, stating that the driver and another man first took her to an unknown location, demanded $200, and then dropped her at the Hilton Hotel. She also shared the taxi registration number and tagged Mumbai Police while using the hashtag #scam.

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Mumbai Police responded to the viral post by asking the woman to share her contact details through direct messages, following which the Sahar Police initiated an inquiry. During the investigation, officers found that there are three Hilton hotels located near the airport and worked to identify the exact hotel where the tourist had stayed. However, police discovered that within 12 to 13 hours of the incident, Ariano had checked out of the hotel and left Mumbai. She reportedly travelled to Pune the next day and later returned to the United States after completing her visit.

Senior Police Inspector Manoj Chalake of Sahar Police Station stated that efforts are ongoing to record the victim’s statement through video call or email. He noted that the tourist had not informed hotel authorities about the incident at the time. Police also confirmed that they had requested her to file a formal complaint, to which she initially responded positively but did not follow through. Chalake reiterated that tourists should immediately inform hotel staff or local authorities if they suspect exploitation by taxi drivers, as prompt reporting helps in quicker action.

With no formal complaint forthcoming, the Sahar Police registered a suo motu case on January 28 against an unidentified taxi driver under Sections 318(4) for cheating and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Using the taxi number mentioned online, police traced Yadav, a permit taxi driver residing in Sahar Village. The white Toyota Etios involved in the case was seized and found to be registered under S.M.S. Tours and Travels. Authorities plan to forward Yadav’s details to the Regional Transport Office to initiate proceedings for cancellation of his driving licence.

Further investigation revealed that Yadav allegedly negotiated the fare with the tourist and later contacted his associate, Taufiq Shaikh, who arrived with the car. After collecting the money, Shaikh reportedly fled to Uttar Pradesh. Police records indicate that Shaikh has multiple cheating cases registered against him at different police stations, while Yadav has no prior criminal history. The cash could not be recovered as it was taken by the absconding accused. The Metropolitan Magistrate Court initially granted police custody to Yadav for one day before sending him to judicial custody.