Uber banned from operating in New Delhi: Report
Uber, the U.S. online ride-hailing service, has been banned from operating in the Indian capital with immediate effect after a young female passenger was allegedly raped by one if its drivers, the Hindustan Times reported.
The Delhi government has blacklisted Uber from providing transport services due to the behavior of its driver, the newspaper said, quoting a statement from the transport ministry.
The news could not be independently verified but was reported by other news outlets. Repeated calls to officials at the city's transport department went unanswered.
Police said they were considering legal action against the online taxi service for failing to run background checks on the driver, who was arrested on Sunday and due to be brought before a court on Monday.
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in a statement: "What happened over the weekend in New Delhi is horrific. Our entire team's hearts go out to the victim of this despicable crime. We will do everything, I repeat, everything to help bring this perpetrator to justice and to support the victim and her family in her recovery."
"We will work with the government to establish clear background checks currently absent in their commercial transportation licensing programs. We will also partner closely with the groups who are leading the way on women's safety here in New Delhi and around the country and invest in technology advances to help make New Delhi a safer city for women," he added.
The suspect was held in his home town in Uttar Pradesh where his car was earlier found abandoned. He will be brought before a New Delhi court on Monday, said Madhur Verma, deputy commissioner with the Delhi police.
Police opened a rape investigation after the 26-year-old woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted and beaten after hailing a ride home with the Uber driver from a social event late Friday in south Delhi.
Verma said the police would consider legal action against Uber for violations including a failure to check whether the driver, named as Shiv Kumar Yadav, had a clean police record and the lack of a satellite location device in his car.
"Every violation by Uber will be evaluated and we will go for legal recourse," said Verma, saying police would take legal advice before opting to press a criminal or civil case.
Uber has faced critical news coverage over its driver screening in the United States, and has apologised for comments by an executive who suggested "digging up dirt" on journalists investigating the firm.
That has not stopped the San Francisco-based firm from raising investment that values it at $40 billion, reflecting the perceived potential of its expansion into high-growth markets like India.
Read MoreHow Uber's $40 billion could become a problem
The 32-year-old driver dropped the woman home after attacking her and warned her not to inform the authorities. She managed to note down the driver's number and take a photograph of his car, police said.
Delhi recorded the highest number of rapes in India in 2013, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau data, earning the dubious distinction of being India's "rape capital".
Police attribute the rise in reports to more women coming forward due to greater public awareness following the high profile gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman on a bus in December 2012.
Uber said in a statement on Sunday that it had suspended the driver following the allegations, in line with company policy, and have provided the authorities with "all relevant details," such as driver, vehicle and trip information.
"Safety is Uber's highest priority and in India, we work with licensed driver-partners to provide a safe transportation option," Uber spokeswoman Evelyn Tay said on the company's blog.