Pune: In a significant breakthrough in the Swargate bus stand rape case, Pune Police have arrested the accused, identified as Dattatray Ramdas Gade (37), after an extensive two-day search operation. Gade, who had been absconding since the incident, was apprehended late Thursday night from a village in Shirur Taluka.
The accused was presented before the Pune Sessions Court on Friday, where the court remanded him to 12 days of police custody. Advocate Wajid Khan Bidkar represented him in court.
During the hearing, police submitted that Gade has a criminal history, with multiple prior offenses including theft, robbery, and chain-snatching. They also stated that the accused sexually assaulted the victim twice before she filed a complaint upon a friend’s suggestion.
The crime occurred at Swargate bus stand, one of the largest depots of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). On Tuesday around 5:30 AM, the victim was waiting for a bus to Phaltan when the accused approached her. He misled her by claiming that the Satara-bound bus was stationed at another stand and offered to guide her.
The accused then led the victim to an empty MSRTC AC bus parked inside the depot. The bus’s interior lights were off, which raised her suspicion. However, Gade reassured her that it was the correct bus before proceeding to forcibly assault her.
Criminal Background of the Accused
According to police records, Dattatray Gade has five prior criminal cases registered against him across multiple police stations:
Shikrapur Police Station (Shirur Taluka) – 2 cases
Shirur Police Station – 1 case
Ahilyanagar Kotwali Police Station – 2 cases
Gade was released on bail in 2019 in a previous case, following which he resumed criminal activities. Additionally, a mobile theft case was registered against him at Swargate Police Station a few months ago.
