Pune Rape Accused Hiding in Sugarcane Fields? Police Deploy Drones, Sniffer Dogs
Pune: The man accused of raping a young woman inside a parked bus—just 100 meters from a police station at Pune’s Swargate Bus Stand—may be hiding in sugarcane fields near his hometown, police sources told NDTV on Thursday.
Authorities have launched an extensive search operation using sniffer dogs and drones, as the dense sugarcane crops, which grow up to 10 feet tall, make it nearly impossible to track him on foot.
The accused, identified as Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, reportedly evaded capture by escaping the city in a vegetable truck. Upon reaching his hometown, he changed his clothes and shoes to avoid detection.
To track him down, Pune police have formed 13 special teams, including eight from the Crime Branch, and are questioning his family and associates. A reward of ₹1 lakh has also been announced for any information leading to his arrest.
Earlier today, Junior Home Minister Yogesh Kadam stated that Gade’s ‘probable location’ had been identified.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured justice for the victim, emphasizing that Gade would not be spared. He also backed fellow Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s demand for capital punishment.
“Such people should be hanged,” he said.
Pune Bus Stand Rape
The horrific crime took place between 5:45 am and 6:00 am on Tuesday.
The victim, a young domestic worker, was waiting to board a bus to her hometown in Satara district when she was approached by Gade, who, she told police, addressed her as “didi” (sister).
Gade allegedly asked about her destination and convinced her that a bus parked in a secluded corner of the busy depot would take her there. CCTV footage later captured them walking toward that bus.
Outside the unlit bus, the woman hesitated but was reassured that the lights were off because other passengers were asleep. She was then encouraged to step inside.
Once she entered, she told police, Gade followed, locked the door, and assaulted her. After the attack, he fled the scene, and the woman confided in a friend, who persuaded her to report the crime.
Police swiftly registered a complaint and retrieved CCTV footage, which helped launch their investigation. Authorities are also probing how and why the bus depot management allowed such an incident to occur on their premises and inside one of their buses.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), facing criticism over security lapses, has replaced guards at the depot and launched its own inquiry. A report on the incident is expected within a week.
MSRTC is one of the country’s three major public transport agencies, operating a fleet of over 14,000 buses and serving more than 55 lakh passengers daily.
The accused, 36-year-old Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, has a prior criminal record, with at least six cases of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching registered against him in Pune and the neighboring Ahilyanagar district.
He has been out on bail since 2019.
