Delhi is currently hosting the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam. Hundreds of delegates and AI experts are expected at the event, which will continue till February 20. But unfortunately, the Co-Founder and CEO of NeoSapien.xyz had a very bad experience and said he “felt like a hostage” during a cab ride booked with Namma Yatri while heading to the airport to catch his flight to Delhi for the event. Here’s what happened.
CEO Was Travelling To Delhi For The India AI Impact Summit
India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being hosted for global political leaders, technology giants, startups, and researchers to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Co-Founder and CEO Dhananjay Yadav of NeoSapien.xyz was on his way to Bengaluru airport to catch a flight to Delhi for the event. According to his X post, he booked a cab via Namma Yatri.
But when he sat in the car, the driver allegedly refused to switch on the AC, claiming it was a non-AC ride despite the app showing otherwise. After that, the driver checked Dhananjay’s fare of ₹844 and started demanding extra money, saying it was a metered taxi charging ₹24 per kilometre. Dhananjay insisted he would pay the fare shown on the app, but the driver refused. He then asked the driver to drop him at a nearby place so he could book another cab.
Also Read: AI Impact Summit 2026: Guest List, Schedule, Travel Advisory; Here’s All You Need To Know
Driver Allegedly Refused To Let Him Go
Here’s the most surprising part. The Namma Yatri driver allegedly refused to let Dhananjay Yadav leave unless he paid ₹844. This is why the CEO said he “almost felt like a hostage on his cab ride to the airport.” According to his post, he had to give in just to make it to the airport. He ended his post by saying, “This was a deeply uncomfortable and unsafe experience. I’ve raised a complaint, hoping stricter action is taken. Customer safety cannot be compromised.”
Namma Yatri quickly responded to the incident and apologised. They also wrote, “The refund has been processed, and necessary action is being taken to ensure your future rides are safe and hassle-free. Thank you for your support.”
Netizens were angered by the situation. One user wrote, “Appalling to know that a man who is well built and owns a company is being threatened.” Another X user wrote, “In such cases, rather than quarrelling with the drivers, just pay them online and share them with the company and get a refund.” Many users criticised cab drivers in Bengaluru and shared similar experiences.
Also Read: Ixigo Launches Airport Cabs At Major Indian Airports With Flexible Scheduling & Discounts
Have you ever experienced something similar with cabs in your city?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Industrial Photograph (Representative Image) and @imDhananjay/X
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