26-Year-Old Woman Raped in Stationary Bus at Pune’s Swargate Depot; Accused Arrested After 75-Hour Manhunt
Pune, 28 Feb, 2025: On February 25, 2025, a 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a stationary Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at the Swargate bus depot in Pune, Maharashtra. The incident occurred early in the morning, around 5:30 AM, just 100 meters from a police station, sparking widespread outrage over security lapses in a busy public area.
The accused, identified as Dattatray Ramdas Gade, a 37-year-old resident of Gunat village in Shirur Tehsil, Pune district, was arrested on February 28, 2025, after a 75-hour manhunt. Gade, a history-sheeter with a criminal record including six cases of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching across Pune and Ahilyanagar districts, had been out on bail since 2019. He allegedly lured the victim, a preoperative counsellor waiting for a bus to Phaltan in Satara district, by addressing her as “didi” (sister) and offering assistance.
He then led her to an empty parked bus where the assault took place. Pune Police launched an extensive search operation involving 13 teams, drones, a dog squad, and over 100 officers. A Rs 1 lakh reward was offered for information leading to his capture. Gade was finally apprehended around midnight on February 27-28 in Shirur Tehsil, reportedly after he requested food and water from a house, which tipped off authorities. He was brought to Pune, medically examined, and formally arrested, with plans to produce him in court on February 28.
The case has raised serious questions about women’s safety in public spaces. Maharashtra’s Transport Minister ordered a security audit of all bus depots, and 23 security guards at Swargate were suspended.
Political leaders, including Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, condemned the incident, with some calling for the death penalty. The National Commission for Women took suo motu cognizance, demanding swift action.
This incident has drawn comparisons to past high-profile cases like Nirbhaya, reigniting debates about crime prevention and justice in India.
