Rape in Shivshahi Bus: Accused’s Photo Goes Viral, Pressure Mounts on Pune Police
Reported by Mubarak Ansari and Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 26th February 2025: Maharashtra has been shaken by the shocking rape incident at Pune’s Swargate ST depot. As public outrage grows, the Pune police have intensified their efforts to track down the accused, identified as Dattatray Gade, a habitual offender with multiple criminal cases against him.
A photo of the accused has now surfaced, adding momentum to the manhunt. Meanwhile, in a significant development, the Pune police have taken Gade’s brother into custody from their native village in Shirur for questioning. A total of eight police teams have been deployed to locate and apprehend the fugitive.
A History of Crime
Dattatray Gade is a notorious criminal with a record of theft, chain snatching, and assault cases registered at Shirur and Shikrapur police stations. Investigations have revealed that he was lurking around Swargate depot before committing the heinous crime.
The rape occurred in the early hours of February 25 (Tuesday) inside a stationary Shivshahi bus at the Swargate depot. The 26-year-old victim, who had arrived at the bus stand to board a bus to Phaltan, was misled by the accused, who falsely directed her to a different bus. Under the pretense of assisting her, Gade lured her into an unused Shivshahi bus, where he assaulted her before fleeing the scene.
Police Crackdown and Public Appeal
A case has been registered under multiple sections, including those for rape under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). CCTV footage from the area helped police identify Gade, but he managed to evade capture when officers raided his residence in Shirur, sources told Punekar News.
In a public appeal, the Pune police have released Gade’s photograph to all police stations and urged citizens to immediately report any information regarding his whereabouts.
Manhunt Intensifies
Pune police teams, including the Crime Branch, are actively tracking Gade’s movements. Sources indicate that he escaped moments before police arrived at his house, raising concerns that he may be receiving external support to stay hidden.
DCP (Zone 2) Smartana Patil said, “Our teams are searching for the accused.”
