Pune: Woman Raped Inside Maharashtra State Transport Bus at Swargate; Accused on the Run
Pune, February 26 – In a shocking incident, a 26-year-old woman was brutally raped inside a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at Pune’s busy Swargate bus stand. The incident reportedly occurred early Tuesday morning.
According to Pune City Police, the accused, identified as Dattatray Ramdas Gade, lured the woman inside a parked bus under false pretenses. The victim, a working woman, was waiting to travel to her village when Gade approached her, claiming that her bus was stationed elsewhere. When she hesitated due to poor lighting, the accused convinced her to check using a torch. Once inside, he locked the door and sexually assaulted her.
Following the incident, the woman initially left for her village but later, on the advice of her sister, reported the crime to the police. A case was registered at the Swargate Police Station, and teams have been formed to apprehend the accused, who has a history of criminal offenses, including theft and chain-snatching.
DCP Smartana Patil of Pune City Police assured that efforts are underway to nab Gade. “We have identified the accused and are making all efforts to arrest him. The victim is stable both mentally and physically,” she stated.
#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra | Zone 2, DCP Smarthana Patil says, "A working woman was waiting for the bus to go back to her home…A man came and said that the bus to your place has been parked somewhere else and took the woman near the parked bus…Then, the man raped the… https://t.co/D80Z6vz5n6 pic.twitter.com/yme7CRTSCs
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2025
The case has sparked outrage, with Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan affirming the government’s commitment to strict action. “This is an extremely concerning incident. The Chief Minister has ordered a thorough investigation and strict action against the culprit,” he said.
The Swargate bus stand, being one of Pune’s busiest transport hubs, raises serious concerns over passenger safety. The police are expected to intensify security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
