Pune Police are offering a Rs 1 lakh reward for information leading to the arrest of Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, accused of raping a 27-year-old woman inside a bus at Swargate Bus Stand. Gade, 36, has a prior criminal history, including theft and robbery, and has been out on bail since 2019. Police have formed 13 special teams to locate him and are investigating the incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning. The Maharashtra government condemned the incident, pledging justice and strict action against the accused, as political criticism intensifies regarding women’s safety under the current administration.
Pune:
The Pune Police have offered a reward of Rs 1 lakh for any information that leads to the capture of Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the individual charged with raping a 27-year-old woman early Tuesday. The incident occurred inside a bus parked at the Swargate Bus Stand, which is just 100 meters away from a police station.
Gade, who is 36 years old, has a history of criminal activity, facing charges for at least six separate instances of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching in Pune and the nearby Ahilyanagar district. He has been released on bail since 2019.
To locate him, the police have formed 13 specialized teams, including eight from the Crime Branch. They have reached out to Gade’s family members, including his brother, and known associates as part of their search efforts.
Teams have been dispatched to various railway stations and bus depots to capture Gade, as stated by Smartana Patil, Pune DCP (Zone II), who noted that identification was hindered because he had worn a face mask.
#WATCH | Discussing the Pune bus rape case, Smartana Patil, Pune DCP Zone II, mentioned, “We have a total of 13 teams actively engaging to apprehend the accused. The investigation is in progress. Teams have also been deployed to the bus stand, railway stations, and surrounding areas. We are interrogating his family… pic.twitter.com/KwdvTDeHh6
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2025
Gade has been evading capture for more than 48 hours now.
‘News Was Suppressed Because…’
This morning, Junior Home Minister Yogesh Kadam stated that although the victim had filed a police report, the media was not informed to prevent alerting the accused.
“After the complaint was received, the police initiated a search within half an hour. However, the news was kept under wraps to ensure the accused did not get wind of it and attempt to flee.”
Mr. Kadam also mentioned that his office reviewed the frequency of police patrols in the area prior to the rape. “Patrolling occurred at 1 am and 3 am… officers visited the site twice before the incident,” he noted.
“The police have taken all essential measures. We reviewed the CCTV footage, identified the accused, and are currently tracking him. His likely location has been established.”
Pune Bus Stand Rape
The assault occurred between 5:45 am and 6 am on Tuesday.
The victim, a domestic worker, was waiting to board a bus to her home in Satara district when she was approached by Gade, who referred to her as ‘didi‘ or ‘sister’.
She reported that Gade asked about her destination and convinced her that a bus parked in a corner of the crowded depot would take her there. CCTV footage captured them walking towards that bus.
READ | Pune Woman Raped In Bus By Man On Bail Since 2019
Once outside the bus—which had no lights on—the woman said she hesitated but was told that it was because the other passengers were asleep. She was persuaded to enter the bus.
Gade reportedly jumped in after her, locked the door, and raped her. After the assault, he fled, and the woman later confided in a friend, who urged her to report the incident to the police.
The police indicated that they immediately filed a complaint and reviewed the CCTV footage, which kickstarted their investigation. This will also involve probing how and why the bus depot’s management permitted such an incident to happen on their premises and within their vehicle.
READ | Pune Woman Raped In Bus Parked 100 Metres From Police Station
In light of the poor security measures, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has replaced the guards at the depot and initiated its own inquiry, with a report expected within a week.
The MSRTC is one of the three public transportation bodies in the nation, managing over 14,000 buses. Daily, more than 5.5 million passengers travel via its services.
Meanwhile, this tragic event has ignited a typical political controversy, with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance targeting the ruling Mahayuti coalition.
The state’s Congress unit leader, Harshwardhan Sapkal, criticized the BJP-led state government for prioritizing ‘freebies’ for women over their safety. Supriya Sule, from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, called out the BJP for failing to ensure women’s security.
#WATCH | Maharashtra | NCP-SCP leaders and party members protested outside the Swargate police station in response to the Pune Swargate bus depot rape incident pic.twitter.com/YMclZ8OtQY
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2025
The Maharashtra government has pledged to assure justice for the victim, with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar describing the incident as “extremely unfortunate, distressing, and enraging.”
“The crime committed against the victim in this case is inexcusable, and there is no punishment severe enough except hanging. I have personally instructed the Pune Police Commissioner to take a direct role in the investigation…” said the NCP leader.
“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also taken this crime seriously and has given necessary instructions to the police. The accused will be apprehended promptly, and we will ensure he faces the harshest possible punishment under the law…”
With contributions from various agencies
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