NEW DELHI: A 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a stationary Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at Pune’s Swargate bus depot on the morning of February 25, 2025. The accused, identified as 36-year-old Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, is a known criminal with previous cases of theft and robbery registered against him in Shikrapur and Shirur police stations in Pune district. At the time of the incident, Gade was out on bail.
The victim was waiting to board a bus to her hometown in Satara district when Gade approached her, addressing her as ‘Didi’ (sister). He deceitfully informed her that her bus was parked at a different platform and led her to a secluded ‘Shivshahi’ bus. Despite the bus being unlit, Gade convinced her to board, posing as the bus conductor. Once inside, he bolted the door and sexually assaulted her. The Swargate bus depot, notably, is less than 150 meters from the Swargate police station, raising serious concerns about security measures in such a busy area.
The incident has ignited widespread outrage, prompting strong reactions from various political leaders and parties. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar condemned the act, describing it as “unfortunate and inhuman,” and emphasized the necessity for the death penalty for the perpetrator.
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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule highlighted the alarming proximity of the crime scene to a police station, stating, “The incident took place very close to a police station in a busy area, which means there is no fear of police.” She expressed deep concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation and the safety of women in the state.
In response to the incident, supporters of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, led by Vasant More, vandalized the MSRTC office at the Swargate depot as a form of protest. The protesters damaged property, including breaking glass panes and furniture, and forcibly vacated staff from the premises. Despite the vandalism, MSRTC officials had not lodged a complaint as of Wednesday night.
Union Minister and Pune’s Member of Parliament, Murlidhar Mohol, asserted that such incidents are intolerable. He communicated with the police commissioner, urging the immediate arrest of the culprit, and pledged full support to law enforcement agencies to maintain order in the city.
State Congress Chief Harshvardhan Sapkal criticized the government’s focus, stating, “The chief minister is busy protecting ‘corrupt’ ministers, while serious crimes are taking place in the city.” He argued that the incident has exposed the declining law and order situation in the state and called for immediate action to ensure the safety and security of women.
In the wake of the incident, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik ordered the replacement of all 23 private security guards at the bus station and directed the MSRTC managing director to conduct a departmental inquiry, with a report to be submitted within seven days.
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The Pune police have intensified efforts to apprehend Gade, forming eight dedicated teams to trace his whereabouts. Deputy Commissioner of Police Smartana Patil, overseeing the investigation, revealed that Gade had a history of criminal activity and emphasized the urgency of his capture.
This incident has drawn unsettling parallels to previous high-profile cases, such as the 2012 Delhi bus rape, underscoring persistent issues of women’s safety and systemic security lapses in public spaces.
As the investigation continues, the incident has sparked a broader discourse on the effectiveness of current security measures and the pressing need for systemic reforms to protect women in public spaces.
