- By Shibra Arshad
- Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kerala News: A Mumbai tourist was harassed by taxi drivers in Kerala's Munnar, forcing her to abandon her trip midway and return to a safe location. The woman, named Janvi, was allegedly prevented from using an online taxi and coerced into hiring a local cab, with drivers citing a court order.
The Mumbai-based assistant professor, Janvi, reportedly received no assistance from the police or the Kerala Tourism Department. A case was registered only after she shared her ordeal online.
'I Won't Return To Kerala Again'
In a three-minute video shared on the internet, Janvi detailed the incident with evidence. The video begins with her praising Kerala's beauty, adding that she may never visit again.
The professor said, "My trip started in Kochi and Alleppey, where the people were incredibly kind, compassionate, and welcoming. Then I decided to head to Munnar. That decision changed how I will remember this trip forever."
What Happened With Lady Prefessor
As she was leaving for Munnar, her host casually mentioned that online cabs (Ola or Uber) are not allowed for pickups in the area—even though Janvi had already booked one. When she inquired about the reason, she was told it was due to the local taxi union.
She recounted, "The host had actually warned us that if we wanted to proceed, we'd have to call the driver to a different location, meet him there, and ensure no one noticed. As soon as we started loading our bags into the cab, five to six men showed up."
She continued, "I believe they had been following us. They began threatening our cab driver, saying he couldn't take us. We couldn't understand their language, but we could feel their anger and felt extremely unsafe." Janvi then called the police, but no help came. She was told, "They've already spoken to the union people."
The police advised her to cancel the booked ride and hire a local taxi instead. When she contacted the Kerala Tourism Department, she received a similar response.
The professor said, "Everyone was telling us the same thing: You're not allowed. You're not allowed to decide who you travel with. You're not allowed to feel safe. You're not allowed to exercise your constitutional rights."
Later, upon checking, Janvi discovered that the Kerala High Court had ruled in favour of online taxis, stating that "it is the customer's constitutional right to choose with whom they wish to travel.
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"In the video's conclusion, she said, "I loved Kerala. I loved how beautiful it is. I loved how amazing the people are. But I don't think I can return to a place where I'm not allowed to feel safe," she said.