The rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a stationary state transport bus at the busy Swargate station has triggered uproar in Pune. A total of 13 police teams have been formed to track down the accused, Dattatraya Ramdas Gade (36).
Who is Dattatraya Ramdas Gade?
According to the officials, Gade has half a dozen theft, robbery and chain-snatching cases registered against him in Pune and adjoining Ahilyanagar district.
"During the investigation, it has to come to light that he was released on bail in a robbery case in 2019. In 2024, a theft case was lodged in Pune against him and he was summoned to the police station," they added.
Meanwhile, a police team on Wednesday questioned Gade's brother in connection with the case. They are also examining CCTV footage of the Swargate bus station and nearby areas, and seeking technical assistance for clues and to track down the accused.
Additionally, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone who helps them catch Gade.
Know about the incident:
According to the police, the woman was waiting for a bus for Phaltan at one of the platforms at the Swargate bus station around 5.45am on Tuesday. Gade approached her and said the bus for Satara had arrived at another platform.
He took her to an empty Shiv Shahi AC bus parked elsewhere on the station premises. As the lights inside the bus were not on, she hesitated to get in at first, but the man convinced her that it was the right vehicle. He then followed her inside and raped her before fleeing.
The accused also threatened the victim and asked her not to reveal about the crime to anyone, according to police.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Smartana Patil said that the CCTV footage showed the woman walking towards the bus with the accused.
"There were many people and several buses on the station premises when the incident took place. The woman did not approach police immediately after the incident, but took another bus for her hometown, and narrated the incident to her friend on the phone while travelling. On her friend's advice, she got down within the city limits, and went to the police station to lodge a complaint," she added.
