Hyderabad Rapido Impersonator Gets Two-Day Jail Term

Core News & Key Facts

A Hyderabad court has sentenced a 27-year-old man to two days’ simple imprisonment for allegedly posing as a Rapido driver and approaching a woman near Charminar without a booking. Mirza Ahmed Baig, also known as Irfan and a resident of Kishan Bagh, was convicted by the I Special Judicial Magistrate, Hyderabad, on Friday, August 13, 2026.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹250 on Baig. The case was registered at Charminar Police Station following a complaint involving Hyderabad content creator Siddeshwari Sugandh.

According to the case details, Sugandh was approached at around 9 p.m. by Baig, who allegedly claimed that he was a Rapido driver and offered to drop her even though she had not made a booking. The interaction raised concerns when she noticed that the scooter did not have a registration number displayed.

Context & Official Statements

Sugandh reportedly asked the man to produce his Rapido driver credentials. Baig was allegedly unable to show a driver ID. Instead, when asked to provide proof of his association with the ride-hailing platform, he began downloading the Rapido application on his mobile phone.

Sugandh later posted a video of the encounter on Instagram. In the video, she expressed concern over the confidence with which the man approached a woman at night and attempted to gain her trust by using the Rapido name.

The case was registered under Sections 70(C) and 21(B) of the City Police Act, Section 292 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The court subsequently found Baig guilty and ordered two days of simple imprisonment along with the ₹250 fine.

The incident attracted wider attention after Sugandh’s video circulated online. She later shared another video clarifying the identity of the man and responding to attempts to give the incident a religious and political angle.

Impact & What to Expect Next

The court’s sentence brings a legal conclusion to the case against Baig following the incident near Charminar. The episode has also highlighted concerns about people falsely claiming to represent app-based transport services when approaching members of the public.

The circumstances described in the case underline the importance of checking driver identification and booking details before accepting an unsolicited ride. In this instance, the absence of a visible registration number and the inability to produce a Rapido driver ID prompted Sugandh to question the man’s claim.

The two-day imprisonment and ₹250 fine represent the punishment ordered by the city court under the provisions cited in the case. The incident also continues to draw attention online following the circulation of Sugandh’s videos.