Delivery apps are convenient, but safety is not guaranteed. Learn how to use the BNSS and platform rules to report harassment and ensure your safety.
You are home alone, you order a late-night meal, and the delivery guy starts asking weird personal questions—about your family, your schedule, or if you live by yourself. It feels "off." A recent case where an Indian delivery driver in the UK was convicted of raping a customer after asking for "visa help" has highlighted how predators exploit personal vulnerabilities. In India, you don't have to just "block and forget." Whether it is a delivery partner or a cab driver, knowing how to trigger the law is your best defence.
Since July 1, 2024, India’s criminal legal framework has shifted from the IPC to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). If a delivery partner or driver harasses you, several specific laws apply:
If you feel unsafe right now, do not worry about "being polite."
Predators often rely on the "he said, she said" gap. Close that gap by securing proof:
Do not just rate them 1 star. You need a paper trail.
If the harassment was physical, or if the stalking continues, go to the police.
If the police are slow or the platform is dismissive:
The system looks good on paper, but in reality, you will hit walls. Here is how to climb over them:
1. The "Chalta Hai" Police Attitude If you go to a police station for "just" a creepy comment or a driver following you, the officer might try to talk you out of it. They might say, "Beta, complain mat karo, uska career kharab ho jayega" (Child, don't complain, his career will be ruined) or "Just block the number."
2. The "Independent Contractor" Excuse Platforms like Uber or Zomato often try to dodge liability by saying the driver is not their employee but an "independent partner."
3. The Vanishing Driver Profile Sometimes, after a ride or delivery ends, the driver's details disappear from your "Recent" list, or the platform hides the vehicle number for "privacy."
Copy, fill in the [highlighted] bits, and send.
Subject: Formal Grievance: Safety Incident - Trip/Order ID [Number] - [Date]
Body: To the Grievance Redressal Officer, [Company Name (e.g., Uber India / Zomato)],
I am writing to formally report a safety violation by your partner, [Driver/Delivery Name], during a [Trip/Order] on [Date] at [Time].
Incident Details: [Describe briefly: e.g., The partner made sexually coloured remarks and followed me to my door.]
Under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, your platform is required to ensure a safe environment for consumers. I have already reported this via the app (Ticket ID: [ID]), but I am yet to receive confirmation of the action taken.
I demand:
Please acknowledge this email within 48 hours as per statutory requirements.
Regards, [Your Name] [Phone Number]
To, The Station House Officer (SHO), [Name of Police Station], [City]
Subject: Complaint regarding Sexual Harassment under Section 75 and Stalking under Section 78 of the BNS, 2023.
Sir/Madam, I, [Your Name], aged [Age], residing at [Your Address], wish to report an incident that occurred on [Date] at approximately [Time].
I had booked a [Cab/Delivery] via [App Name]. The partner, identified as [Name] with vehicle number [Number], [Describe what happened: e.g., used abusive language / made unwelcome sexual overtures / followed me after the delivery].
This conduct constitutes an offence under Section 75 (Sexual Harassment) and Section 78 (Stalking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
I request you to register an FIR under Section 173 of the BNSS and initiate an investigation. I have attached [Screenshots/Call Logs/CCTV stills] as evidence.
Yours sincerely, [Your Name] [Date]
"Hello, I am at [Specific Landmark/Address]. I am being harassed by a [delivery person/cab driver]. He is [refusing to leave/following me/threatening me]. My [Trip/Order] ID is [ID]. I feel unsafe and need a patrol vehicle immediately. I am wearing a [Color] shirt so you can identify me."
No. Filing an FIR is absolutely free. If any police officer asks for money to "write the complaint" or for "petrol charges" to catch the guy, that is illegal. You can report this to the Vigilance Department of your state police.
Yes. If a driver uses the phone number they got from the app to call or message you for non-business reasons, it is a breach of privacy and falls under stalking (**Section 78 BNS**). Most apps use number masking, but if they find your real number, it is a major safety lapse by the platform.
You don't need to. As long as you have the Trip ID, Order ID, or the Vehicle Number, the police can legally compel the company (Uber, Swiggy, etc.) to provide the driver’s full KYC details, including their Aadhaar and permanent address.
An FIR is a public document in some states, and the accused has a right to a copy. However, if you are a woman reporting sexual harassment, you can request the police to keep your contact details confidential in the records provided to the accused to prevent retaliation.
Yes. Use the **Zero FIR** provision under **Section 173(2) of the BNSS**. Any police station in India must record your complaint and then transfer it to the station where the incident occurred. They cannot tell you "not our jurisdiction."
Under the Consumer Protection Rules, the Grievance Officer must acknowledge your complaint within 48 hours and resolve it within one month. If they ignore you, you can file a complaint on the **National Consumer Helpline (1800-11-4000)** or via the **NCH app**.
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