Pune Police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the 36-year-old accused of raping a 27-year-old woman inside a parked bus at Pune’s Swargate Bus Stand. The crime took place early Tuesday morning, just 100 metres from a police station, sparking outrage and intense political debate.
Manhunt for the Accused
Gade, who has a history of criminal offenses, including theft, robbery, and chain-snatching in Pune and the neighboring Ahilyanagar district, has been on the run for over 48 hours. According to reports, he has been out on bail since 2019.
To apprehend Gade, 13 special teams, including eight from the Crime Branch, have been deployed. Pune DCP (Zone II) Smartana Patil stated that officers have spoken to Gade’s family, his brother, and known associates. Authorities have also dispatched teams to railway stations and bus depots to track him down. Identification efforts have been hindered as Gade wore a face mask at the time of the crime.
The rape occurred between 5:45 am and 6 am on Tuesday when the victim, a domestic worker, was waiting for a bus to her hometown in Satara district. The accused approached her, calling her ‘didi’ (sister), and convinced her to board a dark, empty bus, claiming it would take her to her destination.
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CCTV footage shows Gade and the victim walking towards the bus. Once inside, he locked the door and sexually assaulted her. The survivor later confided in a friend, who encouraged her to immediately report the crime. The police promptly filed a complaint and launched an investigation, including a probe into security lapses at the Swargate Bus Depot.
MSRTC Under Fire for Security Failures
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), which manages Swargate Bus Stand, has faced severe criticism for lapses in passenger safety. In response, the MSRTC has replaced security guards and launched an internal inquiry, with a report expected within a week.
The MSRTC, one of India’s largest public transport bodies, operates a fleet of over 14,000 buses and serves more than 55 lakh passengers daily.
Political Reactions and Government Response
The horrific incident has ignited a political firestorm, with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance criticizing the BJP-led Mahayuti government for failing to ensure women’s safety.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal slammed the state’s focus on women-centric welfare schemes, arguing that basic safety measures are being overlooked. NCP leader Supriya Sule condemned the failure of law enforcement, stating that the incident reflects a lack of fear of the law among criminals.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar called the rape case “extremely unfortunate, distressing, and infuriating.” He vowed justice for the survivor and demanded the harshest punishment for the accused, stating, “There can be no punishment other than hanging.”
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who oversees the Home Department, has taken the matter seriously and issued strict directives to law enforcement to expedite the arrest and prosecution of the accused.
