The complainant stated that the driver mocked her for speaking in Kannada and insulted her suggesting that Kannada was not widely used in the city. | Photo credit: Getty Images / Representative image
Anchor and Janapada singer Divya Alur on Friday filed a complaint at the Girinagar police station against the taxi driver for allegedly insulting Kannada and hurting the emotions of Kannada speakers.
According to the complaint, on the night of March 26, Ms. Divya booked a ride through an app-based cab aggregator. The accused driver arrived and allegedly made derogatory remarks about Kannada and questioned its importance in Bengaluru.
The complainant stated that the driver mocked her for speaking in Kannada and insulted her suggesting that Kannada was not widely used in the city.
He also allegedly belittled Kannada speakers and made statements that hurt regional sentiments.
Ms. Divya further alleged that the driver behaved disrespectfully and abusively during the ride, causing her mental anguish and even forcing her to “complain to whoever he wants”.
She recorded the entire incident on her cellphone and uploaded it to social media before contacting the police.
She urged the police to take strict legal action against the driver and also asked the taxi aggregator authorities to initiate disciplinary action.
Police have acknowledged the complaint and are expected to verify details, including the driver’s identity and driving history. Further investigation is underway.
Published – 29 March 2026 18:17 IST
