Autorickshaw driver Mohammed Alam gained stardom among his peers after Director General of Police Vikram Singh hired him during his surprise visit to Kanpur on June 30.

Alam had no idea that he had a VIP passenger till he reached the Kotwali police station and saw him being welcomed by senior police officers. But the Rs 400 from the DGP and his newfound eminence backfired soon. Talks started among other auto-drivers about how he was underage and did not have a license to drive. Result: He lost his job and now lives in constant fear of being harassed by the police. Alam has been hiding since Sunday, when he saw his photograph in almost all newspapers and news channels.

Alam told The Indian Express that he is 19 and has a learner’s licence. Still, “a few policemen were inquiring about me at the taxi stand”.

He is the only breadwinner of his family of six, but now, no one is ready to rent out a vehicle to him. “I have to feed my family and educate my sisters. Now I don’t know how I would do it,” he said.

He had even gone to the DGP office in Lucknow to meet Singh, but was told that he was out of town. “I am planning to purchase an autorickshaw on a finance scheme. I hope I get it soon, or life would be difficult,” he said. His mother Nazma said he is not underage, though there is no birth certificate.