Pune Police Arrest Rape Suspect After 70-Hour Manhunt

The arrest follows widespread public outrage and criticism over lapses in security at the Swargate bus depot where the crime occurred.

The suspect, Dattatray Ramdas Gade, was detained in Shirur Tehsil early Friday after a 70-hour search involving drones, sniffer dogs, and multiple police teams.
The 26-year-old victim, a medical professional, was lured into an unlit bus at the Swargate bus depot on Tuesday morning and assaulted by Gade, who posed as a bus conductor.
Gade, a history-sheeter with prior charges of theft and robbery, had been out on bail since 2019 and evaded arrest for two days before being apprehended.
The incident has sparked criticism of law enforcement and security measures, with officials acknowledging prior warnings about harassment and anti-social behavior at the depot.
In response, Maharashtra officials announced new safety measures, including enhanced patrolling, deployment of women security guards, and installation of GPS, panic buttons, and CCTV in buses.