Kolkata Cab Driver Muhammad Irfan Allegedly Threatens Woman Over Hanuman Chalisa

A regular evening ride turned into a chilling experience for a young woman in Kolkata on May 9, 2025, when she was allegedly threatened with death by her cab driver simply for playing the Hanuman Chalisa on her phone.

The woman had booked her ride through a popular app and was heading home, casually scrolling through her phone when a short video clip featuring the Hanuman Chalisa began playing. What should have been an innocuous moment of devotion suddenly spiraled into a terrifying ordeal.

According to the woman's statement, the driver, identified as Muhammad Irfan, became enraged upon hearing the devotional chant. He allegedly demanded that she stop it immediately. When she refused, the situation escalated rapidly. The driver is said to have threatened her life and even attempted to divert the vehicle towards an unfamiliar location, which the woman feared to be his own neighborhood. He allegedly warned her she wouldn’t leave alive if she didn’t obey.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the woman managed to escape the moving vehicle and rushed to file a complaint at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station. Authorities acted swiftly, arresting the driver and launching a formal investigation into the matter.

While swift police action has been acknowledged, the incident has sparked widespread concern over rising religious intolerance and the safety of passengers, especially women, using app-based cab services. Questions are also being raised about the accountability of ride-hailing platforms, particularly their silence and lack of immediate response to such serious allegations.

Social media has lit up with reactions ranging from outrage to concern, with many demanding stricter background checks and behavior monitoring of cab drivers. Others are calling for better safety features for passengers, particularly for solo female riders.

This shocking episode underscores a troubling question—has the simple act of listening to a devotional hymn become so provocative that it could endanger someone’s life? As the investigation continues, many are hoping it serves as a wake-up call to reinforce both passenger safety and the spirit of tolerance in public spaces.