Ranjan Thapa, Boston Uber driver accused of rape, was acquitted in trial

A Boston-area Uber driver who was in the news after being accused of raping a drunken passenger in 2018 was acquitted in a trial last year, according to court records and prosecutors.

The Suffolk District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case, did not issue a press release announcing the June 2023 verdict.

In a statement to MassLive, a district attorney’s spokesperson confirmed that a jury found Ranjan Thapa not guilty.

Thapa, of Everett, was arrested on the night of St. Patrick’s Day 2018 after police stopped his car and found the woman semi-conscious in the back seat with her pants unzipped, prosecutors said.

During questioning, Thapa admitted to having sex with the woman, according to police. She was taken to a local hospital. Thapa was arrested the next day and charged with rape.

His arrest attracted the attention of local and national media, including the Washington Post and the Associated Press.

Apparently no media outlet reported on Thapa’s trial, nor on his acquittal a year ago.

His arrest came in the wake of several high-profile criminal proceedings against ride-sharing drivers who were accused of sexually harassing their passengers.

Shortly after the arrest, Uber described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and announced that Thapa would no longer drive for the company.