Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain have detained an 18-year-old man suspected of hacking e-rickshaws using a mobile app and then charging drivers to restore service. Authorities say the group used the app or similar tools to disable vehicles at night in remote spots. They would then approach the stranded drivers, pose as technicians, restart the vehicles quickly, and collect fees ranging from 200 to 300 rupees or higher.
Multiple complaints from drivers and their association prompted a joint probe by the Crime Branch and local station under Additional SP Alok Sharma. Investigators are examining technical claims, reviewing CCTV footage, and checking for a wider network.
The incidents exploited a Bluetooth vulnerability in the Battery Management System of certain e-rickshaws, which lacked password protection. The flaw was later addressed. Police have advised drivers not to pay strangers offering help and to contact authorised centres instead, while urging them to document suspicious individuals and report via emergency numbers.
