A horrific incident unfolded in Pune’s Swargate bus stand as a 36-year-old man with a criminal record allegedly raped a woman inside a stationary Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus. The suspect, identified as Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, remains at large as multiple police teams work to track him down.
Incident Details and Police Investigation
The assault took place early Tuesday morning (February 25, 2025) when the victim was waiting for a bus to Phaltan in Satara district at the Swargate bus stand, one of Maharashtra’s busiest transport hubs. According to her statement, the accused approached her under the pretense of assisting her, referring to her as ‘didi’ (sister) and falsely claiming that her bus had arrived at another platform.
He then lured her to an empty bus parked in a secluded area within the bus station premises and assaulted her. CCTV footage later confirmed the woman was seen walking towards the bus with the accused.
The woman did not immediately report the crime but confided in a friend over the phone while traveling. On her friend’s advice, she got off within city limits and approached the police station. A case of rape under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered against Gade.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Smartana Patil stated that the accused had a history of theft and chain-snatching cases registered in Shikrapur and Shirur police stations. Eight special police teams and a sniffer dog squad have been deployed to apprehend him.
Political Backlash and Public Outrage
The brutal attack has triggered political outrage, with opposition leaders blaming the state’s Home Department, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, for failing to ensure public safety.
NCP (SP) leader and Baramati MP Supriya Sule strongly condemned the incident, stating, “There is a police post nearby, and routine patrolling takes place, yet such an assault happened at Swargate. This proves that criminals have no fear of the law.” She demanded that the case be fast-tracked and the accused be given strict punishment.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal echoed similar sentiments, pointing out the rising number of crimes against women in the state. “When the Nirbhaya gangrape happened in Delhi, people changed the regime. The BJP-led government talks about schemes for women but fails on fundamental safety issues.”
Rising Crimes and Safety Concerns
The Swargate bus stand is a critical transit hub, raising serious concerns about security lapses. With increased incidents of violent crimes in Maharashtra, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of policing and surveillance at public transport hubs.
As the manhunt for the accused continues, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure swift justice for the survivor and strengthen security measures to prevent such heinous crimes in the future.
