Government lens on e-rickshaw remote shutdown issue; two apps were removed from app stores

Representative file image. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena

Amid reports that e-rickshaws could be remotely shut down via the Chinese smartphone app BAT-BMS, the government said on Friday that two such apps had been noticed and have since been removed from app stores. IT Secretary S. Krishnan said app stores need to exercise due diligence and said the government will take up the matter with them to ensure that potentially harmful apps are not made available.

Confirming that action has been taken on the matter, Mr Krishnan said: “It is true…there are several apps that we came to know about yesterday and both have been pulled from the app stores.” He was speaking on the sidelines of the CII Cybersecurity Summit.

VIDEO | Delhi: After videos surfaced on social media showing e-rickshaws being shut down allegedly using a Chinese mobile app, Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said the government is investigating the matter.

Naseem, an e-rickshaw driver, says, “I control my… pic.twitter.com/TkXoEWCQIP

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 3, 2026

The issue drew public attention on Thursday (July 2, 2026) after reports surfaced that some e-rickshaws had been disabled through a remote shutdown feature linked to the Chinese BAT-BMS smartphone app.

The videos have sparked widespread concern about the cyber security risks posed by such internet-connected vehicle management systems.

Published – 03 Jul 2026 13:09 IST