Pune Police Capture Suspect in Bus Rape Case

Pune, Feb 28 (NationPress) After evading capture for several days, Dattatray Gade, who is accused of sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman inside a stationary Shivshahi bus at Pune’s Swargate depot, was apprehended on Friday.

He was taken into custody at approximately 1:30 a.m. in a sugarcane field located in Gunat village, Shirur taluka, where he had been hiding.

The police had mobilized 13 teams consisting of over 100 officers, along with a dog squad, to track down Gade, who had been missing since Tuesday after the assault.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingle led the operation that captured Gade, who was subsequently transferred to the Swargate police station for further inquiry. He is set to be presented in court after 3 p.m. and is currently detained at the Lashkar police station.

According to police sources, an extensive search was initiated in Gade's home village, Gunat, with assistance from local residents. Officers from the crime branch, drone unit, and dog squad from neighboring districts were also involved. DCP Pingle noted the villagers' cooperation during the search.

“Gade visited a relative's home late at night to request water. After receiving the bottle, he allegedly expressed remorse for his actions, stating a desire to turn himself in before departing from the relatives' house,” reported police sources. However, law enforcement received a tip-off regarding his whereabouts, leading to his eventual arrest. Gade’s capture has provided significant relief to the Pune Police, who faced considerable pressure amid widespread criticism from opposition parties and various organizations.

Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar instructed the Pune Police Commissioner to take personal charge of the case and ensure the immediate arrest of the suspect. “The rape incident involving our sister at Pune’s Swargate bus stand is profoundly disgraceful, distressing, and enraging for every member of a civilized society. The crime perpetrated by the accused is unforgivable, and the only appropriate punishment is the death penalty,” he stated. CM Devendra Fadnavis has also taken the incident seriously and issued necessary directives to the police.

The National Commission for Women has demanded a detailed report from the state police chief concerning the sexual assault on the 26-year-old woman inside the bus at the Swargate depot. Commission chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has requested a comprehensive investigation report along with a copy of the victim's complaint.

Preliminary findings from the police indicate that Dattatray Ramdas Gade is a resident of Gunat village in Shirur taluka, Pune district. He owns three acres of ancestral land and resides in a family home with his parents, who work in agriculture. He also has a brother, a wife, and children.

Gade was unemployed and had been searching for work. Police sources indicated he resorted to robbery to generate quick income and had a history of engaging in thefts from villagers.

In 2019, he purchased a four-wheeler through a loan for the purpose of transporting passengers from Pune to Ahilyanagar. During this time, he targeted elderly women wearing jewelry, robbing them at knifepoint. Gade previously ran for election in Gunat village under the state government’s TantaMukti Abhiyan (dispute-free village campaign) but was unsuccessful.

Additionally, police sources revealed that he was involved in election activities during the recent Assembly polls. Gade had committed a robbery at Kare Ghat near Shirur village in 2020 and had been charged and sentenced for that crime. He also has ongoing cases registered at Shikrapur, Supa, Kedgaon, and Kotwali police stations in the Ahilyanagar district.