Lagatar24 Desk
Pune: In a shocking case that has sparked outrage across Maharashtra, the prime accused in the Pune bus stand rape case, Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, is suspected to be hiding in a sugarcane field near his hometown. Police have launched an extensive search operation using sniffer dogs and drones to track him down, sources revealed on Thursday.
The accused, who raped a young woman inside a parked bus at Pune’s Swargate Bus Stand, managed to escape the city by hiding in a vegetable truck before reaching his hometown, where he changed his clothes and shoes to evade arrest.
Massive Manhunt Underway
Police have deployed 13 special teams, including eight from the Crime Branch, to nab Gade. Authorities have also questioned his family and associates, while announcing a ₹1 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest.
Junior Home Minister Yogesh Kadam stated that the accused’s probable location has been identified, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde vowed swift justice for the victim, stating that Gade will not be spared. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has called for capital punishment for the accused.
“Such people should be hanged,” Shinde asserted.
Pune Bus Stand Rape: What Happened?
The horrific incident took place on Tuesday morning between 5:45 am and 6:00 am at the Swargate Bus Depot, located just 100 meters from a police station.
The victim, a domestic worker, was waiting for a bus to her hometown in Satara district when Gade approached her, addressing her as ‘Didi’ (sister). He lured her by telling her that a parked bus would take her to her destination.
CCTV footage from the depot captured the two walking toward the bus. The woman hesitated to board, but Gade convinced her that the lights were off because passengers were asleep.
Once inside, he locked the door and raped her before fleeing the scene. The woman later informed a friend, who convinced her to file a police complaint.
Security Failures at Swargate Bus Stand
Following the incident, authorities are now investigating security lapses at the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) depot.
• The depot management is under scrutiny for allowing such an incident within its premises.
• MSRTC has replaced security guards at the bus stand and has launched an internal inquiry, with a report expected within a week.
MSRTC, one of India’s largest public transport bodies, operates over 14,000 buses carrying more than 55 lakh passengers daily.
Accused Has Criminal History
Gade, 36, has a prior criminal record, with at least six cases of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching registered against him in Pune and Ahilyanagar district. He has been out on bail since 2019.
Authorities are now racing against time to capture him before he escapes further, with drones and ground teams searching vast sugarcane fields where he is suspected to be hiding.
