Pune: Three unidentified men allegedly assaulted a 22-year-old cab driver on a service road along the Pune-Bengaluru bypass and robbed his cellphone and Rs 2,000 in Baner early on Sunday.The driver, a resident of Mulshi, suffered injuries to his face after the suspects thrashed him with the car’s key. He lodged a complaint with Bavdhan police on Tuesday after receiving treatment at a hospital.An officer from Bavdhan police said the victim had parked his car on the service road under the Sus-Pashan bridge and was waiting for passengers. The trio approached him and sought water. The driver rolled down car’s window and handed them a water bottle.“At this point, one of them removed the car key and all three entered the car. When the driver asked why they had taken the key, the trio started beating him. They demanded money from him and snatched Rs 2,000 from his wallet and two cellphones,” the officer said.He said, “The trio then forced the cab driver to share the password to his UPI app. After finding that there was no balance in his bank account, one of the men assaulted him with the car key. They returned one of the two cellphones and told him to call his brother and ask him to transfer money. They also threatened to stab him if he called anyone other than his brother.”However, they could not take more money as a police vehicle passed them by. The trio had to flee with Rs 2,000 and a cellphone, he said.“The victim then called his brother and reached the police station. Since he was injured, he was advised to first seek treatment. Our investigation was on,” he said.
