Taxi Driver Targeted in Suspected Blackmail Attempt on Kalyan's Govindwadi Bypass

A taxi driver was allegedly targeted by two women in a suspected blackmail attempt along the Govindwadi bypass in Kalyan while travelling towards Bhiwandi. The passengers reportedly demanded Rs 10,000 from him and threatened to frame him in a false harassment case by tearing their own clothes.

The incident came to light after a video recorded inside the moving vehicle surfaced on social media. The footage captured the women shouting and abusing the driver, with one of them attempting to hit him during the altercation.

According to reports, taxi driver Sachin Shendge was stopped by the two women, who asked for a ride to Bhiwandi. Shendge informed them that he was heading only as far as Kon village. Despite being told the destination limit, the two women boarded the taxi.

After travelling a short distance along the route, the situation escalated when the women demanded Rs 10,000 from Shendge. When the driver refused to hand over the money, the women allegedly tore their own clothes and attempted to threaten and blackmail him with false accusations.

Shendge refused to yield to the extortion attempt. Instead, he called for police assistance and continued driving his vehicle towards the nearest police station. The video footage captured a tense exchange inside the cab, with voices asking for the vehicle's doors to be opened and warnings that the passengers were being taken directly to law enforcement authorities.

The standoff came to an end after the vehicle crossed Durgadi Bridge, where a police vehicle came into sight. Upon spotting the police vehicle, the two women jumped out of the moving taxi and fled the scene.

The video of the confrontation has circulated widely online, sparking concerns over motorists and commercial drivers being targeted in similar blackmail schemes. Further details regarding an official police complaint or ongoing action against the women were not immediately available.