Dattatray Ramdas Gade, the 37-year-old man accused of raping a 26-year-old woman inside a bus at Pune's Swargate depot, was arrested early Friday morning in Shirur, Maharashtra, following a massive, multi-day manhunt. The arrest brings a relief to the shocking incident that sparked widespread outrage.
Gade had been on the run since Tuesday morning, when the alleged assault occurred. The victim, a medical professional, was waiting for a bus to Satara district at the Swargate depot, one of the largest operated by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). According to police reports, Gade misled the woman, telling her that her bus had arrived at a different platform. He then took her to an empty 'Shiv Shahi' AC bus, where he allegedly assaulted her.
The ensuing manhunt involved 13 teams from the Pune Police. Gade was reportedly hiding on a farm in Shirur. His capture came after he visited a nearby house for a meal late at night. The resident, recognizing Gade, immediately alerted the authorities, leading to a swift midnight arrest.
The incident had triggered widespread condemnation, with political leaders and the public demanding swift action. The police had announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to Gade's arrest, and a dedicated hotline was established for tips. Earlier on Friday, a large-scale search operation was conducted in Gade's home village of Gunat, involving over 100 police personnel, drones, and dog squads, focusing on sugarcane fields.
Gade, a resident of Gunat village, has a prior criminal record, with around six cases of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching registered against him in Pune and Ahilyanagar districts. He had been out on bail since 2019 in one of these cases. The history-sheeter raises serious questions about how he was able to evade authorities for so long and commit such a heinous crime. The arrest, while a positive development, underscores the need for continued vigilance and improved security measures, particularly in public transit spaces.
