Maharashtra’s cyber police have issued formal notices to Google and Apple, demanding the removal of ride‑hailing applications operated by Ola, Uber and Rapido from their app stores over alleged illegal bike‑taxi operations in the state. The move escalates a long‑running regulatory clash between the government and app‑based mobility platforms that have been running two‑wheeler passenger services without state transport approvals.
The Maharashtra State Cyber department issued the notices under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, warning that both tech giants could face legal liability if they fail to comply. Authorities argue that the bike‑taxi services enabled by these apps are operating in violation of transport regulations and the Motor Vehicles Act, and lack the required permissions from the state transport department. The department has also flagged concerns over passenger safety, citing weak driver verification systems, inadequate insurance coverage and limited emergency response mechanisms.
The action follows a complaint from Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who wrote to the cyber department on May 12 urging measures against aggregators he said were running unauthorised bike‑taxi services across the state. Sarnaik has also asked that first‑information reports be registered against the companies’ management under the IT Act and the Motor Vehicles Act, and separately alleged that Rapido’s operations pose a heightened risk to public safety. Officials have indicated that cab, auto and food‑delivery services from the same platforms remain unaffected, with the crackdown focused solely on two‑wheeler passenger operations.
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