Pune, 2nd June 2026: Court has formally framed charges against the accused in the Swargate bus rape case, where a young woman was allegedly raped inside a Shivshahi bus at the Swargate bus station on February 25, 2025.
The prosecution on Monday submitted a list of 87 witnesses along with evidence against the accused before the court.
The accused, Dattatray Ramdas Gade (37), a resident of Gunat village in Shirur, has been charged under multiple sections related to rape and other serious offences. Following the incident, Gade had fled from the spot and was later found hiding in an agricultural field in his native village before being arrested by Pune Police.
After his arrest, he was produced before a magistrate court, which remanded him to 12 days of police custody. He was later sent to Yerawada Central Jail under judicial custody.
Police had filed an 892-page chargesheet within 52 days of the incident. During the investigation, statements of 82 witnesses were recorded and 12 panchnamas were conducted.
The chargesheet includes crucial evidence such as CCTV footage, identification parade records, Google search history, comparative voice intensity verification and witness statements.
According to the prosecution, both direct and circumstantial evidence establish the accused’s presence at the crime scene during the offence.
Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar is representing the state in the case, while Advocate Shriya Awale is appearing on behalf of the survivor. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for June 15.
Meanwhile, the accused had approached the sessions court seeking bail on two occasions. Both applications were rejected by the court, which observed that the allegations against the accused were grave in nature and that there had been no change in circumstances even after the filing of the chargesheet.
