Last Updated:
Dhananjay Yadav, CEO of NeoSapien, faced an unsafe Namma Yatri cab ride in Bengaluru, prompting a complaint and refund, while on his way to attend India AI Impact Summit in Delhi.
Dhananjay Yadav, CEO of NeoSapien, said he had booked an AC cab via the Namma Yatri app, but the driver refused to turn on the air conditioning, claiming it was a “non-AC” ride. (Photo Credit: Reddit/r/bangalore)
A Bengaluru-based entrepreneur has shared his “uncomfortable and unsafe” experience during his trip in Namma Yatri Cab to the airport to attend the India AI Impact summit.
In a post on X shared on Sunday, Dhananjay Yadav, CEO of NeoSapien, said he had booked an AC cab via the Namma Yatri app, but the driver refused to turn on the air conditioning, claiming it was a “non-AC” ride.
He further said that the driver demanded extra payment and insisted on a metered rate of Rs 24/km instead of the app’s displayed fare of Rs 844. Yadav claimed that the driver refused to let him exit the vehicle to book another cab unless he paid the full fare, making him feel “almost like a hostage”.
“Felt almost like a hostage on my cab ride to the airport today. Booked an AC cab via @nammayatri for my flight to Delhi (Impact AI Summit). The driver refused to turn on the AC, claiming it was a non-AC ride—despite the app clearly showing otherwise,” he said.
Felt almost like a hostage on my cab ride to the airport today.Booked an AC cab via @nammayatri for my flight to Delhi (Impact AI Summit). The driver refused to turn on the AC, claiming it was a non-AC ride — despite the app clearly showing otherwise.
He then checked the fare… pic.twitter.com/SXi2t2QkTw
— Dhananjay Yadav (@imDhananjay) February 15, 2026
He further said that he agreed to pay the amount to avoid missing the flight to the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi.
“Eventually, I had to give in just to make it to the airport. This was a deeply uncomfortable and unsafe experience. I’ve raised a complaint hoping stricter action is taken. Customer safety cannot be compromised,” he added.
Following the complaint, Namma Yatri issued an apology for the incident and issued a full refund. “Hi Dhananjay, we apologize for your uncomfortable experience. We spoke with you on call, the refund has been processed, and necessary action is being taken to ensure your future rides are safe and hassle-free. Thank you for your support,” their response read.
Namma Yatri is the first zero-commission ride-hailing app in India that was launched in Bengaluru in November 2022. The app connects passengers directly with auto-rickshaw and cab drivers, eliminating the need for middlemen and commissions.
The latest incident raises concern as such incidents continue particularly in cities like Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad, where cab drivers often refuse to use the AC. Drivers often cite high fuel prices, increased operational costs, and low earnings.
February 16, 2026, 18:39 IST
Read More
