A tap, and the e-rickshaw stops: Delhi govt probes viral Chinese app used by pranksters

The Delhi government has directed its Transport Department to launch an urgent investigation into the legitimacy and technological risks of a Chinese mobile application named BAT-BMS. The directive follows a viral and dangerous social media trend where pranksters are allegedly using the smartphone app to remotely shut down moving e-rickshaws across the national capital.

Videos circulating widely on Instagram, YouTube, and X show tech-savvy individuals connecting to nearby e-rickshaws via Bluetooth and instantly turning off the battery’s discharge function, leaving drivers stranded, confused, and vulnerable in heavy traffic.

A critical bluetooth security vacuum

Preliminary research carried out by the Delhi Transport Department suggests that the application is a legitimate battery management tool developed by a Shenzhen-based technology company in China. It is designed to allow users to wirelessly monitor real-time parameters like voltage, temperature, and current within a 10-to-15-metre range.

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However, a massive loophole in the local electric vehicle supply chain has turned the tool into a public nuisance.

Vehicles running on older lead-acid batteries or proprietary, factory-secured lithium software remain unaffected by the exploit.

Economic and safety toll on drivers

Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh confirmed that his office moved quickly after citizens flagged the malicious trend.

“I am yet to receive a formal written complaint, but people raised this issue at my office. I have directed officials to verify the claims and get accurate information,” Singh said, adding that intentionally interfering with moving vehicles is illegal and could warrant strict police action.

The digital "pranks" have inflicted a severe human and economic toll on Delhi’s gig-economy workers, many of whom rent their e-rickshaws (locally nicknamed tirris):

Reports have emerged of bad actors disabling the vehicles mid-road and then posing as mechanics to charge distressed drivers Rs 100-300 out of pocket to "fix" and restart the engine via the app.

Ground reports highlight instances where drivers have lost an entire day’s earnings—amounting to Rs 400–500—after being locked out of their vehicles for hours.

Commuters and drivers have expressed extreme safety concerns, fearing that a sudden power cut in dense, fast-moving traffic could cause catastrophic rear-end collisions.

As the Transport Department assesses the scale of the vulnerability, authorities are weighing potential restrictions on unencrypted, third-party battery systems to protect public safety.

While the original BAT-BMS application has reportedly been removed from Apple’s App Store following a wave of user reports, it and similar clone apps remain accessible on the Google Play Store.