Rapido Denies Any Involvement in Rs 331 Crore Money Trail Linked to Bike Taxi Driver

Rapido, a ride-hailing service, has refuted any connection to an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation. The probe involves a Rs 331-crore money trail linked to a bike taxi driver's account. Between August 19, 2024, and April 16, 2025, this account received deposits totalling Rs 331.36 crore. The ED suspects this is a mule account used for laundering illicit funds.

Enforcement Directorate's Investigation

The ED discovered the Rapido driver during an inquiry into money laundering associated with 1xbet online betting. A mule account typically channels illegal funds from financial crimes, with the actual owner not using it. Such accounts are often set up using fake or borrowed KYC details, where someone rents out their account for a commission.

Rapido stated it is cooperating with the ED by providing necessary information. A spokesperson clarified that the driver in question is one of two crore registered captains offering bike taxi services through Rapido. They emphasised that the company is not involved in the investigation and that the driver's actions are personal.

Suspicious Transactions and Raids

The ED was alerted by the suspicious multi-crore transactions over eight months, prompting a raid at the address listed in the driver's bank records. Investigators found that the driver resided in a modest two-room dwelling in Delhi and spent most of his day working as a bike rider.

Further scrutiny revealed that over Rs 1 crore from these deposits funded a lavish wedding at a luxury hotel in Udaipur, Rajasthan. This wedding is reportedly linked to a young politician from Gujarat, who may soon be called for questioning by the ED.

Driver's Statement and Further Investigations

The driver reportedly told investigators he was unaware of the bank transactions and could not identify those involved in the Udaipur wedding funded through his account. The ED found that large sums were deposited from unknown sources and quickly transferred to other suspicious accounts.

One funding source for this account is tied to illegal betting activities, according to officials. The agency is currently verifying both the origins and destinations of these transactions.

Ongoing Probe into Celebrities

In connection with the 1xbet investigation, the ED recently seized assets worth crores belonging to former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina. Several other cricketers and celebrities have also been questioned as part of this probe.

Rapido maintains it does not condone such behaviour and remains committed to transparency, integrity, and legal compliance. The company stresses its dedication to upholding high standards while distancing itself from any unlawful activities linked to its drivers.

With inputs from PTI