Mumbai Police pulls the brakes on viral auto driver’s locker service near BKC US Consulate

A Mumbai auto-rickshaw driver's brilliant money-making scheme has come to an abrupt halt after police intervention. The driver had tapped into a goldmine opportunity, charging desperate US visa applicants ₹1,000 per bag for storage services outside the BKC consulate, where security strictly prohibits baggage entry. The operation went viral after businessman Rahul Rupani shared his experience on LinkedIn.

Rupani’s post praising the auto driver's entrepreneurial hustle quickly went viral, with many claiming the man earned ₹6–8 lakh a month. The driver later clarified he made closer to ₹25,000. The buzz prompted BKC police to investigate, revealing a group of 12 drivers from Bharat Nagar slum running similar locker services using nearby shops. Though no thefts were reported, police noted none of them had permits for such operations. “They were addressing a real need, but it was technically illegal,” said an officer.

The drivers have since agreed to halt the service. While no cases were filed, authorities warned that unlicensed storage posed legal risks. With no official locker facility near the US consulate, these drivers had simply stepped in to fill a gap. But for now, their clever workaround has been shelved, a reminder that even the most resourceful ideas can stall when they run up against the rulebook.