New Delhi, July 3 -- A surprise sting operation by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has sparked debate online after he booked a Rapido ride in Mumbai to expose the platform's illegal operations in the state.

The minister, posing as a regular commuter, used the Rapido app to book a bike taxi, which arrived within minutes at Babu Genu Chowk near Mantralaya, the state's administrative hub. The vehicle, bearing registration number MH 01 EU 8501, was found to be part of the company's fleet, despite a Bombay High Court order in January 2024 banning Rapido's services in Maharashtra due to a lack of a valid license.

Sarnaik paid Rs.500 to the rider and refrained from taking action against him. "Filing a case against a poor man like...