Incident at Swargate bus stand sparks outrage and raises safety concerns at public hubs; A massive manhunt is underway to nab the accused, a Shikrapur resident who has been named in several robbery cases
Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the absconding accused who has been named in multiple robbery cases
A 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a Shivshahi bus at Pune’s Swargate ST bus depot early on Tuesday morning. A massive manhunt is underway to nab the accused, Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, 36, a Shikrapur resident who has been named in several robbery cases, according to the police.
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According to the police, the woman reached Swargate around 5.30 am to board a bus to Phaltan. Gade allegedly misled her, claiming her bus would depart from a different spot and convinced her to follow him. He then allegedly led her to a secluded, dimly lit bus, locked the door, and raped her.
The Shivshahi bus on which the crime took place. PIC/SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The woman initially left for Phaltan but, midway, decided to return and reported the incident at Swargate police station. Police reviewed CCTV footage and identified the accused. Eight teams have been deployed to track him down. A dog squad is also assisting in the search.
Police Speak
Deputy Commissioner of Police Smartana Patil said, “The survivor works in Pune and was travelling to her hometown in Satara district. On Tuesday, she was waiting for a bus when the accused approached her. It appears that he spoke to her, and shortly afterward, the person sitting next to her got up and left. The accused befriended her by speaking sweetly and asked where she was going. On learning she was headed to Phaltan, he then told her that the bus did not stop there and that she needed to go to a different location to catch one that did. He offered to take her to the bus stop. CCTV footage shows the woman walking toward the bus with the accused.”
A screengrab of a video put out by Maharashtra State Commission for Women President Rupali Chakankar. PIC/X/@ChakankarSpeaks
Patil added, “The inside of the bus was dark, and the woman remarked on this. The accused, however, claimed the bus had arrived at night and that passengers were sleeping, which is why it was unlit. He assured her that she could check for herself and asked her to step inside. When the woman entered the bus, the accused followed her, locked the door and raped her. CCTV footage shows the accused leaving the bus and the woman also disembarking before setting off for her hometown. After travelling some distance, she told a friend what had happened. Following his advice, she approached us at the police station. The accused has been identified as a resident of Shirur village.”
As per the police, the Shivshahi bus in which the alleged rape occurred belongs to the Solapur depot. The police said that the woman was sent to Sassoon Hospital for a medical check and she is stable. Her medical reports were awaited.
‘Avoid trusting strangers’
Rupali Chakankar, president of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, told mid-day, “The incident is extremely serious. I have personally spoken to the police commissioner and the investigating officers and have also reviewed the CCTV footage myself.” She said, “In the footage, the woman is seen talking to the accused for some time before he misled her and committed the crime. This highlights the importance of being cautious while interacting with strangers. Government agencies and inquiry cells are always available for help, and it is essential to reach out to them in such situations. Unfortunately, the survivor trusted a stranger, which led to this tragic and painful incident.”
पुण्याच्या स्वारगेट बस स्थानकावर काल सकाळी एका तरुणीवर बसमध्ये अत्याचार झाल्याची घटना, या अनुषंगाने मी स्वतः पोलीस आयुक्त तसेच तपास अधिकारी या सगळ्यांशी बोलले आहे.सीसीटीव्ही फुटेजही मी स्वतः पाहिले आहे.ही तरुणी आरोपी सोबत काही वेळ बोलत होती आणि त्याने तिची दिशाभूल करून,तिला खोटं… pic.twitter.com/SERv0BcISp
— Rupali Chakankar (@ChakankarSpeaks) February 26, 2025
Expressing confidence that the accused would be arrested soon, Chakankar said, “I appeal to young women to remain vigilant in public spaces and avoid trusting unknown individuals. It is crucial to seek assistance from authorities and take precautions for personal safety. Predators are lurking among us, and their number is increasing. We must stay alert. I have instructed the administration to ensure proper counselling for the survivor and expedite the investigation.” She added that buses parked at depots must be locked properly to prevent such incidents from occurring.
Punekars outraged
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked outrage among Pune residents, who raised concerns about security at public transport hubs. The Swargate bus depot, a busy transit point in the city, is crowded throughout the day. Commuters expressed shock that such a crime could occur at such a place. What makes this case even more alarming is that a police outpost is located near the bus depot, and cops regularly patrol the area, they said.
Sarika Kale, a Pune resident who often travels to Mumbai from Swargate, said, “The incident is extremely shocking. The Swargate bus depot administration and Swargate police should treat it with utmost seriousness.”
Pooja Desai, another commuter, said, “A large number of women passengers arrive at Swargate bus depot from various districts of Maharashtra, yet no proper facilities are available here. At night, the bus station is enveloped in darkness, creating an environment where many women are harassed. Often, intoxicated individuals can be found at the bus depot. The police must get rid of such people.”
Sunanda Chowdary, another woman said, “It is very shocking that such incidents are happening in a city that was recognised as ‘Vidhyeche Maherghar’ [hometown of education]. Only recently, the city was shaken by the gang-rape of a student in Bopdev Ghat. Pune is almost the first choice for parents who wish to send their children for education and employment, but this will change now.”
Political uproar
Leaders across party lines such as NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule and MLA Rohit Pawar, NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader Rupali Thombre Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sushma Andhare and former Kasba MLA Ravindra Dhangekar slammed the city police over the incident.
Dr Neelam Gorhe, deputy chairperson of the Legislative Council, has called for the establishment of women’s vigilance committees at all MSRTC depots to enhance women’s safety. She has also demanded that CCTV cameras be monitored at night and an increase in security personnel at bus stands. Gorhe emphasised the urgent need for installing CCTV cameras and following safety measures in buses. MSRTC officials were not available for comment.
Transport minister in action mode
Pratap Sarnaik
State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said, “Taking serious note of the incident, we have directed that a departmental inquiry be conducted through senior officials against the station head [assistant traffic superintendent] and the depot manager on duty at the time. If found guilty, they should be immediately suspended. These instructions were given to MSRTC Vice-Chairman and Acting Managing Director Vivek Bhimanwar.” Sarnaik has also ordered an urgent meeting of all senior MSRTC officials on Thursday to review overall security measures. All security personnel stationed at the bus terminal are to be replaced immediately. Sarnaik also sought that a detailed report on the incident be submitted within the next seven days.
Madhuri Misal, minister of state for transport, said, “Under the Mahila Sanman Yojana, women currently receive a 50 per cent concession on travel fares, leading to a significant rise in women passengers. However, their safety has now become a pressing concern. In light of the recent incident, Sarnaik has called for an urgent meeting of senior MSRTC officials to discuss and implement concrete measures for women’s safety. CCTV cameras have already been installed at Swargate depot, and further improvements will be made. Additionally, in coordination with the transport department and local administration, a comprehensive review of security systems will be conducted, with a special focus on enhancing women’s safety.”
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