A short auto-rickshaw ride in Delhi has triggered a larger conversation about tourist safety, public conduct and accountability after a foreign traveller shared a video of an alleged uncomfortable encounter. The clip, now circulating widely on Instagram and other platforms, has drawn sharp reactions online and prompted calls for authorities to intervene. The video was posted by a traveller identified as @daviddxiao, where it can be seen that the driver repeatedly is offering to arrange paid sexual services despite being refused. Despite the passenger’s clear refusals, the driver purportedly continues to push the proposal. The traveller later wrote that he felt uneasy, pressured and unsafe throughout the journey. According to his caption and subsequent posts, the persistent suggestions made him deeply uncomfortable. In a follow-up post, he advised visitors to use app-based transport instead, writing: “Just use Uber in Delhi guys. Much more trustworthy.” The authenticity of the claims has not been independently verified.
Social media reaction
@daviddxiao/Instagram
The video went viral, and many people tagged the official handle @delhi.police_official, urging them to take severe legal action. Some people in the comments were worried that such events affect India’s international reputation and go against the “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guest is God) spirit, which is often used in India’s tourism campaigns. One user wrote, “India is a beautiful and safe country, but like anywhere in the world, you still need to be careful around certain people.” Another commented, “Sorry for your experience… this was a shameful incident that is hurting all of us Indians. Hope @delhi.police_official @cmo.delhi will try to take immediate steps to make every visitor feel safe.” A third urged authorities to investigate further, writing, “Hello @DelhiPolice. Please look into this urgently. Kindly trace his whereabouts and rescue the women who may be trapped in this racket.” Others described the alleged conduct as “shameful and unacceptable,” calling for strict action to deter similar incidents in the future. Some users also recommended that instead of taking untraceable modes of transport in Delhi, one should use the Delhi Metro or cab services that allow tracking of the ride and identification of the driver.
No official response yet
As of now, there has been no official public response from Delhi Police regarding the incident. Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content shared on social media. TOI has not verified the video independently.
