Mumbai: Film director Smita Kudwa conned by cabbie

MUMBAI: When film director and writer Smita Kudwa set out on a weekend shopping trip, she never thought she would end up shelling out over Rs 5,00 for a taxi ride from Worli Race Course to Bhendi Bazaar that costs around Rs 75, not to speak of the mental agony.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon when Kudwa (59), a resident of Shivaji Park in Dadar, set out to visit Chor Bazaar.
Kudwa says she parked her car at Race Course and took a kalipeeli cab to Bhendi Bazaar.“The actual fare is around Rs 75, but the meter showed Rs 242.”
She told the driver his meter had been tampered and handed him Rs 100. The driver returned the note saying it was torn. She then gave him some other notes, which he returned on the same pretext. Kudwa gave him a Rs 500 note, and the driver handed it back too.
“He told me there could be something sharp in my purse which was tearing the notes. When I opened the purse, he immediately pointed to the Rs 2,000 notes and I gave him one, but he said it was a fake,” added Kudwa.
She fished out another Rs2,000 note, which he returned saying it was torn. Finally, she took out another Rs2,000 note, examined it thoroughly and handed it to the cabbie. He accepted it and returned Rs 1,500 change.
With the traffic and chaos around, it took Kudwa a while to realize she had been conned. “I did not understand he had cheated me till he vanished from the scene. I then went to HDFC Bank, but they rubbished the fake note claim.”
Kudwa has registered an FIR at JJ Marg police station. However, in her harrowed state, she didn’t note down the cab’s registration number. Police have launched a search for the driver.