image
Ola, Wigdor LLP slam Uber for obtaining rape survivor's medical reports
New Delhi/New York, Jun 09 (IBNS): Indian ride hailing app Ola and New York-based law firm Wigdor LLP have in separate statements slammed car hailing service Uber, after reports of a sacked former company executive belonging to the latter seeking confidential medical reports of a Delhi woman raped by an Uber driver during a ride, did the rounds.
Ola has termed the incident as an "attempt to trivialise a horrific crime" referring to the Dec 2014 incident in which a young woman was raped by an Uber driver in the national capital region.
In a response to a query by Economic Times, Ola said in a statement, "If this report were to be even remotely true, this is an all-time low on morality and a reflection of the very character of an organisation."
"It is a shame that the privacy and morals of a woman have to be questioned in an attempt to trivialise a horrific crime. It is despicable that anyone can even conceive an attempt to malign competition using this as an opportunity," the statement added.
In a response to a query by Economic Times, Ola said in a statement, "If this report were to be even remotely true, this is an all-time low on morality and a reflection of the very character of an organisation."
"It is a shame that the privacy and morals of a woman have to be questioned in an attempt to trivialise a horrific crime. It is despicable that anyone can even conceive an attempt to malign competition using this as an opportunity," the statement added.
Meanwhile, the law firm, Wigdor LLP, who represented the victim in the law-suit against Uber, has said that it hopes for an apology from Travis Kalanick and Eric Alexander.
In a statement, Douglas H Wigdor, the founding partner of Wigdor LLP said, "It is incredible in this day and age that one could even fathom that a legitimate rape victim was part of a conspiracy by a rival firm to harm Uber."
"Sadly, these views, coupled with the scrutiny of private medical records, support rape culture and must end. Given the media reports, it is our sincere hope that Messrs. Kalanick and Alexander will promptly be issuing an apology to our former client."
According to recode.net, the fired executive Eric Alexander, the president of business in the Asia Pacific, had then showed the medical records of the woman to Uber CEO Travis Kalanick and SVP Emil Michael.
In addition, numerous executives at the car-hailing company were either told about the records or shown them by this group, the report said.
"Alexander’s handling of the delicate situation was among 215 claims reported to two law firms — Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling — doing deep investigations into both specific and widespread mismanagement issues at the company, including around allegations of pervasive sexism and sexual harassment at Uber," the report said.
The report said "as part of the Coie investigation, 20 employees were fired for a range of infractions, from sexual harassment to unprofessional behavior to retaliation. About 100 others are either still being investigated or saw some type of action — such as warnings or mandatory employee trainings."
The 26-year-old Delhi woman was allegedly raped by an Uber driver in Dec 2014 during a ride in the capital. She had filed a lawsuit against the company, saying that Uber's "hollow" safety and driver screening practices was the cause for her unsafe situation."
The woman had said that despite the San Francisco-based company's claims that it maintained high safety standards, there was no practice of adequate screening of its drivers which puts at risk the safety of commuters.
She had filed a suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
A professional, the woman was returning home in the cab.
The accused allegedly preyed on her when she dozed off. Uber was banned in Delhi after the incident which led to the arrest of its driver Shiv Kumar Yadav.
However, it began operating in the capital later again. Police said Yadav had criminal records of committing crimes against women in the past.
In 2016, Yadav was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Presently, Uber has about 400,000 drivers in India, compared to 550,000 drivers who have registered with Ola.
Top Headlines
-
News
Qualitatively different: Supreme Court shuts bail door on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in Delhi riots case
January 05, 2026
-
News
Kolkata CP urges elderly to stay alert against digital scams at Pronam interaction
January 03, 2026
-
News
New Year gift for rail passengers! PM Modi to flag off first Vande Bharat sleeper in January all details
January 02, 2026
-
News
Hindu man stabbed and set ablaze in Bangladesh survives by jumping into pond; fourth attack in two weeks
January 01, 2026
-
News
Sona Incubations, Salem picks 17 startups for Rs 11 Mn DST investment, grant
December 30, 2025
-
News
Visva-Bharati University unveils a transformational roadmap under Vice-Chancellor Dr. Probir Kumar Ghosh
December 29, 2025
-
News
Reject Macaulayan education, reclaim Indian values: H M Bangurs big World Hindu Economic Forum pitch
December 21, 2025
-
News
Horror in Bangladesh: Hindu man lynched and set on fire amid violent protests
December 19, 2025
-
News
Buried at home: UP man arrested for killing wife, two daughters over burqa dispute
December 18, 2025
-
News
Sona College of Technology: Many academic, research and industry-linked advances in 2025
December 17, 2025




