A viral Bluetooth app, BAT-BMS, is being used to remotely disable Delhi e-rickshaws, leaving drivers stranded and causing loss of daily wages. (Image: PTI) A smartphone application called BAT-BMS is being misused to remotely disable moving e-rickshaws in Delhi, reports have emerged. The alleged "prank" by youngsters has left drivers stranded on busy roads, causing significant loss of daily income, a report by news agency ANI stated. The app allows users to scan for nearby Bluetooth-enabled lithium battery packs fitted in e-rickshaws and connect to them. Once connected, users can switch off the battery's discharge function, instantly cutting power to the vehicle. Experts say many low-cost battery systems lack basic security features such as passwords or authentication, making them vulnerable to misuse by anyone within a Bluetooth range of around 10 to 15 metres. The issue has gained widespread attention after social media influencers began highlighting its impact on drivers. Speaking to ANI, influencer Amaan Siddiqui recounted an encounter with a driver whose vehicle had stopped working. "I saw a man tying up his rickshaw to another in order to move it," Siddiqui said. "I suspected this app to be behind it. I brought my vehicle behind it and tried connecting my app to the rickshaw. Once it connected, I asked him to stop and told him that his rickshaw would now restart." According to Siddiqui, the driver had rented the e-rickshaw and had been unable to work for the entire day. "He broke down and told me that he had lost an entire day of earning. He had taken the rickshaw on rent. I got emotional too. His rickshaw had been at the same spot for an entire day. What is being done by people is wrong," he said. Drivers affected by the issue are often unaware that their vehicles have been remotely disabled. In several cases, they have reportedly paid mechanics or bystanders to repair what they believed was a technical fault. The Delhi Transport Department has launched an investigation into BAT-BMS and another application, Epoch Li-ion, following reports that the apps are being used to cut power to moving e-rickshaws. Officials are examining the technical risks posed by the applications and considering measures to address vulnerabilities in unsecured Battery Management Systems (BMS). Cyber law expert Pawan Duggal, Chairman of the International Commission on Cyber Security Law, said the activity could attract legal action. "Today an e-rickshaw is not just an e-rickshaw, it's a computer system," Duggal said. "I am very clear this is not a game, this is an offense under section 66 read with section 43 of the Information Technology Act 2000... that is punishable with 3 years imprisonment and a fine worth Rs 5 lakh." Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Delhi, Delhi Weather & AQI and around the world. Diana George is Associate Editor at Times Now, with over a decade of experience covering national and international news, crime, and local politics. S... View More