Pune police have arrested Dattatray Gade, the prime accused in the brutal rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a bus at Swargate bus stand, following a relentless 75-hour search operation. His arrest came after police used a change of shirt to provide the dog squad with his scent, ultimately leading them to his hiding place.
Gade, who had been on the run since Tuesday morning, was tracked down in a sugarcane field near a canal close to his relatives’ house. A breakthrough came when he visited a relative’s home around 10.30 PM on Thursday. Upon learning of his arrival, his family members alerted the police.
Before fleeing, Gade reportedly took a bottle of water and admitted to his relatives, “I have made a big mistake, and I have to surrender.” Police discovered his changed shirt, which was given to the dog squad to pick up his scent. The tracking dogs followed his escape route, leading police directly to the sugarcane field where he was hiding.
Eventually, villagers spotted him in the canal and informed the police. Gade was immediately taken into custody and transported to Pune, where the Special Investigation Team (SIT) at Swargate Police Station formally arrested him.
A History of Criminal Activities
Dattatray Gade, 37, hailing from Shirur in Pune district, is a habitual offender with a long criminal record. He has six cases registered against him across different police stations in Pune and Ahilyanagar district, including charges of extortion, theft, and robbery.
In 2019, Gade took a loan to purchase a vehicle, which he used as an unauthorized taxi on the Pune-Ahilyanagar route. He would target elderly women, luring them into his vehicle under false pretenses, taking them to isolated locations, and robbing them at knifepoint.
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In one such case, he was arrested, and around 140 gram (12 tolas) of stolen gold were recovered from him. He was also convicted for a robbery in Karde Ghat in 2020 and served a jail sentence of five to six months. Despite these convictions, he was granted bail and remained free.
Apart from his criminal background, Gade was also involved in politics. He worked for a prominent leader during recent state assembly elections, and several photos of him with this politician have surfaced on social media. Additionally, he unsuccessfully contested for a seat in the Sangharsh-Mukti Samiti of Gunat village.
What is the Swargate bus stand rape case
Gade was known to loiter around Swargate bus depot, often posing as a police officer. CCTV footage confirmed that on the day of the crime, he was dressed in formal attire to appear credible.
According to police sources, he approached the 26-year-old victim at 5:45 AM on Tuesday while she was waiting for a bus to Phaltan in Satara district. Addressing her as “didi” (sister), he falsely claimed that her bus was at a different platform and led her to an empty Shiv Shahi AC bus.
Once inside, he followed her in and committed the crime.
Public Outrage and Government Response
The incident has sparked massive outrage across Maharashtra. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured the public that the government will push for the harshest punishment possible, including the death penalty. Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane even suggested reviving police “encounter squads” to deal with repeat offenders.
The case has also reignited the debate over the effectiveness of India’s rape laws. Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud referenced the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, which led to stricter rape laws but has failed to prevent similar crimes. “We cannot prevent such incidents by just having laws; their implementation is crucial,” he said.
Security Overhaul at Bus Depots
In the wake of the crime, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has ordered a security audit of all bus depots in the state. He has directed that all unauthorized vehicles seized by transport authorities be removed from depots by April 15.
Additionally, the minister has called for the deployment of more female security guards at bus stands to enhance passenger safety. He has also proposed appointing an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer as the Chief Security and Vigilance Officer for the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
Furthermore, a departmental inquiry has been launched against the Assistant Transport Superintendent and the Swargate Bus Depot Manager, holding them accountable for security lapses that allowed the incident to occur.
