Mumbai Tourist's Video Exposes Harassment by Munnar Taxi Union, Triggering Arrests

On November 2nd, 2025, a Mumbai-based tourist's video alleging harassment by local taxi drivers in Kerala's Munnar went viral on Instagram. The tourist, identified as Janhvi, claimed in her three-minute video that she and her group were informed that ride-hailing services like Uber and Ola were not allowed in Munnar due to the local taxi union.

Janhvi said that when they tried to use a cab driver they had found, they were threatened by 5-6 men who were following them, and the police allegedly told them to go with the union drivers instead. She added that while Munnar was a beautiful place, she would "never visit the state again" due to the incident.

Following the viral video, the Munnar police registered a case and arrested two local taxi drivers, Vinayakan and Vijayakumar, who were seen in the video. Additionally, two police officers, Assistant Sub-Inspector Saju Paulose and Grade SI George Kurian of the Munnar police station, were suspended for failing to assist the tourist.

The Kerala Transport Minister, KB Ganesh Kumar, has stated that the drivers' licenses will be cancelled and termed the harassment of the female tourist as "goondaism." However, the Munnar Tourist Taxi Drivers Association has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that Uber and Ola vehicles are allowed to drop passengers at stations and airports but not take local trips due to a court order.

The Munnar DySP, Chandra Kumar, has said that the police took immediate action after seeing the video and that a probe is ongoing.