Pune Police Announces ₹1 Lakh Reward for Information on Accused in Bus Rape Case

Mumbai, February 27: Pune Police have announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of a notorious criminal accused of raping a 26-year-old woman inside a state transport bus at Swargate bus depot. The accused, identified as 37-year-old Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, has been on the run since the incident occurred on Tuesday morning.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar told PTI that 13 police teams are actively searching for Gade. The police have assured that the identity of the informant will remain confidential.

Gade, who has a history of criminal activity, faces multiple charges including theft, robbery, and chain-snatching in Pune and nearby Ahilyanagar district. He was out on bail for one of these cases since 2019.

Swargate is one of the largest bus depots of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) in Pune. According to the victim, she was waiting for a bus to Phaltan in Satara district at around 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday when the accused approached her, addressing her as "Didi" (sister). Engaging her in conversation, he falsely informed her that the bus to Satara had arrived at another platform.

He then led her to an empty "Shiv Shahi" AC bus parked within the station premises. The woman initially hesitated to board the bus as the lights were off, but the accused convinced her that it was the correct vehicle.

The woman, who works in the medical field, told the police that the man followed her into the bus, assaulted her, and fled the scene. The shocking crime, which took place in the heart of Pune, has sparked outrage, with the opposition criticizing the BJP-led Maharashtra government over women's safety.

The police are intensifying their search for Gade and have appealed to the public for assistance, hoping that the reward will encourage more leads in the case.