A major manhunt is underway in Pune following allegations against Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, a known criminal history-sheeter who is accused of raping a 26-year-old woman at the busy Swargate bus stand in Jehanabad. Gade, who has been out on bail since a 2019 robbery charge, is also linked to multiple cases of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching in Pune and the neighbouring Ahilyanagar district.
Disturbing Incident at Swargate Bus Stand
The incident occurred early on February 25 when the victim, waiting for a bus to Phaltan in Satara district around 5:45 a.m., was tricked by Gade into boarding an apparently empty bus. Claiming to be a conductor, he falsely asserted that the bus was occupied with people sleeping inside. Once the door was locked, the accused assaulted her. Despite several people being present at the bustling bus stand, the attack went undetected until CCTV footage captured the woman approaching the bus with the suspect.
Swift Police Response and Ongoing Manhunt
Alarmed by the video and the victim’s account, local authorities swiftly deployed eight teams along with sniffer dogs to search for Gade in the city. A Pune police team has even questioned his brother to help ascertain his whereabouts. The police confirmed that cases are registered at the Shikrapur and Shirur police stations in Pune district, as well as in the Ahilyanagar area. Recent reports also indicate that another theft case involving Gade was filed last year.
Victim’s Ordeal and Aftermath
After the assault, the victim managed to escape by signalling to a nearby traffic cop and boarding an auto driver’s vehicle to reach safety. Distraught and shaken, she later recounted her experience on Reddit, expressing disbelief and anger at the incident. The victim also filed a police complaint and reported that the delivery service, Rapido, inadvertently compounded her ordeal by not protecting her contact details; the accused reportedly began bombarding her with OTP messages every 15 minutes after sharing her number.
Community Outcry
The horrifying incident has sparked widespread outrage online, with social media users condemning the act of violence and demanding swift action against the accused. As police intensify their search, the case continues to fuel calls for improved safety measures at one of Pune’s busiest transit hubs.
Authorities remain committed to bringing Dattatraya Ramdas Gade to justice and ensuring that such violent incidents are prevented in the future.
