New Delhi: A simple change of shirts was all it took for the dog squad to track down and pinpoint the location of Dattatray Gade, the man accused of raping a 26-year-old woman inside a bus in Pune on Tuesday. After an intense 75-hour chase, the hunt ended with his arrest late last night.
The police launched a massive manhunt, deploying drones and 13 police teams comprising over 100 personnel across Pune district and beyond. The breakthrough came when Gade arrived at a relative’s house around 10:30 PM on Thursday. Upon realizing his presence, his relatives immediately alerted the police.
Before fleeing, Gade took a bottle of water and reportedly confessed to his family, “I have made a big mistake, and I have to surrender.”
Police later found a discarded shirt, which they used to provide the dog squad with his scent. The trained dogs led officers along his escape route, ultimately tracing him to a sugarcane field near a canal close to his relatives’ house, where he was hiding.
Villagers Led to Arrest of Rape Accused in Pune Case
In the end, it was the villagers who discovered Dattatray Gade hiding in a canal. Once they identified him, police swiftly moved in and took him into custody. He was then transported to Pune, where the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Swargate Police Station formally arrested him.
A Serial Offender with a Long Criminal Record
Dattatray Gade, a 37-year-old from Shirur, Pune district, has a history of criminal activities, with six registered cases against him across multiple police stations, including Shirur and Shikarpur in Ahilyanagar district.
His criminal record dates back to 2019, when he took out a loan to buy a four-wheeler, which he used as an illegal taxi on the Pune-Ahilyanagar route. During this time, he lured elderly women into his vehicle, pretending to help them, only to rob them. His arrest at that time led to the recovery of 140 grams (12 tolas) of stolen gold.
In 2020, he was convicted of robbery in Karde Ghat near Shirur and sentenced to five to six months in jail. However, after his release, multiple other pending cases remained, including two in Shikarpur and one each in Supa, Kedgaon, and Kotwali police stations in Ahilyanagar district. Despite his extensive criminal record, Gade had been out on bail since 2019.
Political Ties and Failed Electoral Ambitions
Beyond his criminal background, Gade was also politically active. He worked for a prominent political leader during the recent assembly elections, with photos of him and the leader circulating on social media. Additionally, he had unsuccessfully contested a seat in the Sangharsh-Mukti Samiti of Gunat village.
The Crime: How He Trapped the Victim
Gade was known to loiter around the Swargate bus depot, often posing as a police officer. CCTV footage from the day of the crime showed him wearing formal attire—shirt, pants, and shoes.
According to police sources, Gade introduced himself as a police officer to the 26-year-old rape survivor, using a fake name while engaging her in conversation.
The victim, a working woman in the medical field, had been waiting at Swargate bus station around 5:45 AM on Tuesday, preparing to board a bus to Phaltan in Satara district.
Gade approached her, addressing her as “Didi” (sister) and misleading her by claiming that her bus was at a different platform. He then guided her to an empty Shiv Shahi AC bus, falsely convincing her that it was the right one.
When she hesitated to board the dark, unoccupied bus, Gade reassured her, only to follow her inside and commit the crime.
Public Outrage and Political Response
The crime triggered widespread outrage across Maharashtra. On Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde vowed to seek the harshest punishment, including capital punishment, for Gade.
Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane even called for the revival of police encounter squads to deal with repeat offenders. Pune police had earlier announced a ₹1 lakh reward for any information leading to Gade’s arrest.
Debate on Rape Laws in India
The case has reignited debates on India’s rape laws. Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud referenced the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case, which had led to sweeping legal reforms. However, he emphasized that stronger laws alone cannot prevent such crimes.
“A lot of changes were made in the laws following the ‘Nirbhaya’ incident, but we cannot prevent such incidents by laws alone,” the former Chief Justice stated.
Government’s Response and Security Measures
In response to the public outcry, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik ordered a security audit of all bus depots in the state.
Key measures announced:
- Unauthorized buses and seized vehicles at depots must be removed by April 15.
- Deployment of more female security guards at bus stands due to the increasing number of women passengers.
- Appointment of an IPS officer as Chief Security & Vigilance Officer for the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
Additionally, Mr. Sarnaik launched a departmental inquiry against the Assistant Transport Superintendent and Bus Depot Manager at Swargate, holding them accountable for security lapses that allowed the crime to take place.
With public anger surging, authorities are under pressure to tighten security measures and ensure swift justice for the victim.
