Maharashtra government tells Apple, Google to pull off ride-hailing apps from app stores

The Government of Maharashtra has strongly urged Apple and Google to remove several ride-hailing apps from their app stores, fueling speculation about a potential ban on the use of Ola, Uber, and Rapido in the state.

Reports indicate that state officials are now looking for a way to stop bike taxis without forcing the three companies to “delete their apps” or stop operating in the state. The update comes less than a day after the state government sharply escalated its fight against bike taxis.

The notices were issued on May 15 by the Office of the Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber, under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Apple and Google were instructed to “remove and disable access" to the applications from the App Store and Play Store.

In the notices, Maharashtra Cyber said the bike taxi services offered through the apps were “unlawful and in violation of the existing legal and regulatory framework".

Authorities alleged that the platforms were running passenger transport services “without obtaining valid permissions, government approvals, or compliance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Transport Department and the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act."

The notices also cited concerns related to passenger safety, alleging that driver verification systems, insurance safeguards, women’s safety measures and emergency response mechanisms were “highly inadequate".

The Cyber Department also warned Apple and Google that non-compliance with directions issued by Indian law enforcement agencies could attract legal action under the IT Act and intermediary liability rules.