Pune Police have announced a ₹1 lakh reward for information leading to the arrest of Dattatray Ramdas Gade (37), a history-sheeter accused of raping a 26-year-old woman inside a state transport bus at Swargate bus station. The fugitive has been on the run since the horrific assault in the early hours of Tuesday morning, prompting police to form 13 special teams to track him down.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar urged the public to assist in the investigation, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential. Citizens can share leads by calling 020-24442769 or 9881670659.
Gade, who has a criminal history of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching in Pune and Ahilyanagar district, was out on bail since 2019. Despite his past record, he was free to roam, raising serious concerns about law enforcement lapses.
The horrifying attack took place inside a parked ‘Shiv Shahi’ AC bus at Swargate, one of Maharashtra’s largest bus depots. The survivor, a medical professional, recounted that Gade deceptively led her to the empty bus, pretending to guide her to a Satara-bound vehicle. Once inside, he overpowered and raped her before escaping.
The incident has triggered massive outrage, with the Opposition slamming the BJP-led Maharashtra government over its failure to ensure women’s safety. Critics argue that repeat offenders like Gade roaming free pose a serious threat to public security, urging stricter law enforcement and accountability.
As the hunt for Gade intensifies, pressure mounts on the police and state government to restore faith in public safety.
