Mapusa: Mopa airport police booked Goa Uber management and a taxi driver for allegedly operating without a valid permit from the state transport department at Manohar International Airport in Mopa.
According to the police, a complaint was lodged by Santosh Gawade, Assistant Director of Transport, Vasco, against the accused driver Devendra Satardekar (40), a resident of Mormugao, and Uber management in Goa “for operating without obtaining the required permission from the state authority.”
Police said that on August 5, at 12.45 pm at Manohar International Airport at Mopa, the accused driver was found operating and picking up passengers through the Uber mobile application without obtaining the necessary permit from the state transport department, violating transport laws and regulations of Goa.
Police added that such illegal operations not only pose a threat to the safety and security of passengers but also deprive the state exchequer of revenue.
Acting on the complaint, Mopa airport police registered offences under Section 223 and Section 318 (3) of the BNS against the driver and Uber Goa management. A notice was also issued to the accused under Section 35(3) of the BNSS.
Meanwhile, members of the Vagator-Caisua Taxi Owners Association, along with a local driver, lodged a complaint at Anjuna police station, on Friday, against Satardekar, alleging that he threatened and harassed them on social media, using abusive language and targeting taxi stands.
They also alleged he was operating illegally in Goa without valid permission, and demanded that such operations be stopped.
Around 80–90 tourist taxi drivers, under the Vagator-Caisua Taxi Owners Association’s banner gathered at the police station, led by taxi leaders Yogesh Govekar, Bappa Korgaonkar, Rohan Kandolkar and others. Anjuna PI Suraj Gawas assured the group that the matter would be investigated, and action taken if required.
“An Uber taxi driver named Devendra Satardekar has threatened me for raising the issue of the illegal business of Uber taxis in Goa. Strict action should be taken against the person, as it can escalate into a law-and-order issue,” said Govekar, who also filed a personal complaint.
A taxi driver Rohan Naik said the group wants the Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025 scrapped.
He said all app-based and conventional taxis must operate at gazetted rates.
“Different rates create conflicts. We want a single gazetted rate for everyone in the state,” he added.
