BluSmart Halts Operations After Financial Allegations — Refunds May Take Up to 90 Days
New Delhi, April 21 — BluSmart, India’s first all-electric ride-hailing platform and a promising competitor to giants like Ola and Uber, has suddenly suspended its cab booking services across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This unexpected move comes after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) alleged financial misconduct by the company’s co-founder Anmol Jaggi and launched an investigation into Gensol Engineering — a related company.
SEBI has barred Jaggi and his brother from the stock market and is conducting a forensic audit of Gensol. Following this, BluSmart’s services were quietly pulled back, with no official explanation released by the company so far.
While the BluSmart app is still available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, users cannot book any rides for now. Even Delhi International Airport issued an advisory noting that BluSmart has temporarily suspended airport pick-ups and drop-offs.
The sudden pause in services has sparked confusion and frustration among loyal customers, especially those with money stored in their Blu Wallets. BluSmart follows a pre-paid fare system, which means users had to top up their wallets in advance to book a ride — a model that differs from pay-after-ride platforms like Uber.
So, What Happens to Your Blu Wallet Balance?
BluSmart has sent out emails assuring users that if services are not resumed within 90 days, wallet refunds will be initiated. However, the process is not entirely straightforward, as the app lacks a dedicated refund request option.
How to Claim a Refund from Blu Wallet:
- Open the BluSmart app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the menu icon in the top-left corner and go to the Help section.
- Choose Blu Wallet from the list of topics.
- You’ll find answers to common wallet-related questions, but no direct refund request option.
- To proceed, tap the thumb-down icon when asked “Does this resolve your issue?”
- This will help you connect to BluSmart’s customer support, where you can raise a request for a refund.
Once the request is processed, BluSmart has stated that funds will be returned to the original payment method within 5 to 7 working days. However, due to ongoing investigations, the company has updated its refund policy, extending the processing timeline to up to 90 days.
What Should You Do?
- Keep checking your BluSmart app and registered email for official updates.
- If you’re unable to reach support through the app, consider using BluSmart’s social media channels to escalate your query.
What Lies Ahead?
BluSmart’s silence on the matter is raising more questions than answers. As the investigation unfolds and with operations paused, the future of India’s all-electric cab service remains uncertain.
In the meantime, customers are urged to stay vigilant, track wallet balances, and act swiftly to claim refunds if necessary.
Image credit : Outlook Money
