India, June 16 -- The Rapido rider who was seen slapping a female passenger in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Monday said it was the woman who physically assaulted him first, which prompted him to react the way he did.

The Rapido bike taxi rider was caught on camera slapping the woman passenger, which police on Monday said was a result of an argument over rash driving. Later, in a dramatic twist, another CCTV footage surfaced showing the woman striking the driver first during a confrontation.

The biker, Suhas, said that he reached the pickup location after the woman on June 13 booked a ride, shortly after which she asked him to "stop immediately".

"The woman asked me to stop immediately. I told her I would stop just a little ahead. But sudde...