College student duped of ₹4,220 in cab scam outside Bengaluru airport

A college student returning from Japan was swindled out of ₹4,220 by two cab drivers shortly after landing at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) recently. The victim, Sandeep Penakalapati, had just exited Terminal 2 when a man offered him a ride to his JP Nagar residence for ₹1,000—significantly lower than app-based fares.

Also read: Bengaluru: Here’s how cabbies hoodwink airport-travelling customers into paying more!

Trusting the offer, Sandeep boarded a cab driven by another individual. Minutes into the ride, the driver handed Sandeep a phone to “confirm” the trip. The caller—revealed to be the original man—suddenly revised the fare to include a ₹899 base charge, ₹50 per kilometre, and a 1.9% night surcharge, bringing the total to over ₹4,000.

When Sandeep protested and decided to get out, the driver locked the doors and sped away. The cab eventually stopped near Esteem Mall, where the driver forcibly demanded ₹4,220. After paying under duress, Sandeep’s luggage was thrown onto the roadside before the cab sped off.

The incident came to light after Sandeep’s father, Pradeep Penakalapati, a builder from Andhra Pradesh, filed a police complaint. KIA police arrested the suspects—Santosh (46) and Kabiruddin (33)—who are now in judicial custody. Authorities revealed Santosh had been named in previous complaints, though this marks the first formal case against him. Police confirmed such scams are recurring near the airport and have pledged increased vigilance.