Uber Rape Case: Did Delhi Police Provide Fake Character Certificates to Drivers for ₹8,000?

The 5 December rape by an Uber cab driver in Delhi has opened a Pandora's box. Latest reports suggest that the Delhi police have been allegedly providing fake character certificates to taxi drivers for a bribe of ₹8,000.

As per their hiring policy, radio cab Uber demands a character certificate with police clearance from all those applying for the driver's job with the company. However, in order to obtain a certificate, all that the drivers need to do is pay a bribe of ₹8,000 to the police personnel.

Three Indian drivers of the US-based cab service provider have admitted that they paid bribe equivalent of $130 or ₹8,000 to the police to get a clean-chit in their background verification and get hold of a clear character certificate.

Raj Kumar, who has been working for Uber for the past three months, said while a document from police certifying good character can be bought for ₹8,000, a license and registration can be obtained even without taking a driving test or vehicle inspection for ₹4,000, according to a Bloomberg report.

Kumar's claim about the bribe was supported by two other Uber drivers from Delhi – Manoj Shah and Kulbhushan.

The police have, however, denied the allegations.

Shiv Kumar Yadav, who was arrested on Sunday for allegedly raping a 25-year-old woman finance executive in Delhi on the night of 5 December, too, had received a character certificate minus all his criminal past by the Delhi police in August this year.

Home minister Rajnath Singh had on Tuesday told lawmakers that the document provided by Yadav was forged. Yadav is undergoing trial and has confessed to crime. He is presently in Delhi police custody.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has banned Uber cabs saying it does not have the required licence and permit to run in the national capital.