Pune rape case updates: The accused is a history-sheeter who has been out on bail since 2019. The police have formed 13 teams to nab him.
Pune rape case updates: Tensions continue to grow in Pune over the alleged rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a stationary state transport bus at the Swargate bus stand. Officials have identified the accused as 36-year-old Dattatraya Ramdas Gade and have launched a massive hunt to nab him. The accused is a history-sheeter who has been out on bail since 2019. According to the Swargate police station official, Gade had theft and chain snatching cases against him.
What happened?
- The woman was waiting for a bus for Satara’s Phaltan when the man approached her, calling her ‘didi’ (sister). He told her that the bus for Satara had arrived at another platform, using it as a pretext to take her to an empty ‘Shiv Shahi’ AC bus parked elsewhere on the busy station premises.
- Though she hesitated to board the bus due to the lack of lights, the man convinced her otherwise. Once she got in, he followed her, raped her and then fled the scene. The police identified Dattatraya Ramdas Gade with the help of CCTV footage.
Pune rape case | Some key points
- Opposition leaders in Maharashtra have lambasted the home department held by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for failing to deal with the rising crime in Pune city.
- Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik has replaced all 23 security guards at the Swargate bus station and directed MSRTC managing director Vivek Bhimanwar to conduct a departmental inquiry into the submit, instructing him to submit a detailed report within seven days.
- The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and demanded immediate action from authorities in Maharashtra.
- Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar said that the incident is “extremely shameful, painful and infuriating”, and has ordered the Pune Police commissioner to ensure “immediate arrest” of the accused.
- Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has also taken serious note of the matter and directed the police to take all necessary steps so that the accused is given the harshest punishment.
