10 Arrested in Pokhara for Overcharging Passengers via Ride-Sharing Apps

Pokhara. Ten individuals have been arrested in the tourist capital, Pokhara, on charges of defrauding passengers by operating offline through mobile apps Pathao and inDrive. A joint team from the Kaski District Police Office and the District Traffic Police Office apprehended them from various locations across the city.

Police conducted checks following public complaints and reports that drivers, whether affiliated with the apps or not, were arbitrarily charging high fares and causing unnecessary distress and harassment to passengers. Those arrested include Shyam Kafle, Reshma Kafle, Krishna Kumar Gahatraj, and Akash BK from Syangja.

Similarly, Abjal Miya from Tanahun, Surya Bahadur Nepali from Kaski, Vicky Lama from Kathmandu, Anil Paija from Myagdi, and Nabil Ale from Gorkha have also been taken into custody. Kaski District Police spokesperson DSP Hari Bahadur Basnet stated that all suspects are being held at the Baidam Ward Police Office for further investigation.

The police have urged passengers to use only official channels for services and to immediately report any drivers who demand excessive fares or cause harassment. The Gandaki Province government has issued regulations to legalize ride-sharing apps, but they have not yet been implemented.