Mumbai, Feb 27: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken a serious note of the sexual assault on a 26-year-old woman inside the bus in Swargate bus depot in Pune and asked the state police chief to submit a detailed investigation report.

The Commission’s chairperson, Vijaya Rahatkar, in a letter to the state Director General of Police, Rashmi Shukla, has asked to submit an investigation report and also a copy of the complaint by the victim.

In a related development, the Pune Police are now in action mode as they have inquired about the whereabouts of the accused, Dattatray Gade. However, the police sources said that Gade’s brother told them that the accused did not come to his home, and he does not have a mobile phone. Further, the police have questioned Gade’s girlfriend and have called his parents for questioning.

The police sources said the investigation carried so far by them revealed that Dattatray Ramdas Gade is a resident of Gunat village in Shirur taluka from the Pune district. He has three acres of ancestral land and a family house. His parents work in the field. He also has a brother, a wife and children. Gade has no job and was moving around in search of employment. The police sources said that he had indulged in robbery to earn money quickly. Besides, he had engaged in the looting of villagers. He is a history-sheeter, the police have said.

Gade bought a four-wheeler in 2019 by raising a loan for transporting passengers from Pune to Ahilyanagar. During this time, he used to give lifts, especially to elderly women wearing jewellery and rob them at knife point. Gade had contested the election in Gunat village for the post under the state government’s TantaMukti Abhiyan (dispute-free village campaign) but lost it.

The police sources said he was also engaged in election work during the recent Assembly polls. Gade had committed a robbery at Kare Ghat near Shirur village in 2020. He was also charged with robbery and sentenced. He also has two cases registered in Shikrapur, Supa, Kedgaon and Kotwali police stations in the Ahilyanagar district.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut claimed that the incident in the Shivshahi bus in Swargate depot from Pune is similar to the Nirbhaya case in Delhi. “Fortunately, the victim’s life was saved. Our Shiv Sainiks staged a strong protest at Swargate. Vasant More, Sanjay More and women activists protested. Now cases will be registered against them. There is no longer any fear of law to the gangs operating in Pune. The Home Minister is using the Home Department for political work mainly to harass the opposition,” he said.

Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray condemned the incident and asked where Maharashtra was heading. “The same in Mumbai too. Attack on Marathi too. No one is afraid of the police,” he said. He gave a pat on party activists, including Vasant More, who staged a protest at the Swargate bus depot.

Mumbai: AIMIM leader Waris Pathan has condemned the rape of a 26-year-old woman at Pune’s Swargate bus depot and said that there was no law and order left in Maharashtra.

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Pathan questioned the safety of women in the state despite the government’s “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign and the “Ladli Behna Yojana” scheme.

“There is no law and order left in Maharashtra. I condemn this incident. You (BJP) speak about ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, but are daughters safe in Maharashtra? Nobody has any fear of the law. Such incidents keep happening till Police become strict. You (BJP) have made ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ but you couldn’t save a daughter,” he said.

“We demand strict action against the accused; he should get the strictest punishment,” the AIMIM leader asserted.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Condemns The Incident

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday condemned the incident, calling it shameful, painful, and infuriating.

Addressing the matter, Pawar stated that he had personally directed the Pune Police Commissioner to closely monitor the investigation and ensure the immediate arrest of the accused.

“The incident of rape of our sister at Pune’s Swargate bus stand is extremely shameful, painful, and infuriating for every member of a civilised society. The crime committed by the accused is unforgivable, and there can be no punishment except the death penalty. I have personally instructed the Pune Police Commissioner to closely monitor the investigation and ensure immediate arrest of the accused,” he said.

Shiv Sena-UBT Leader Vasant More Holds A Protest At The Swargate Bus Stand

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vasant More, along with other party leaders, held a protest at the Swargate bus stand where the incident happened.

NCW Takes Suo Motu Cognizance

Apart from this, National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of a distressing incident in which a 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a Shivshahi bus at Pune’s Swargate depot, said NCD in a statement.

In response, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the Director General of Police, Mumbai, seeking immediate action in the case.

Condemning the crime in the strongest terms, the Commission highlighted the grave concerns over public safety, particularly as reports indicate that the accused remains absconding.

Pune, Feb 27: Pune Police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Dattatray Gade, the prime accused in the horrific Pune bus rape case.

The history-sheeter remains absconding for the past 48 hours, prompting an extensive police search to apprehend him.

The shocking incident occurred at around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Swargate bus stand in Pune, where a 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus.

Officials reported that the victim had arrived at the bus stand to board a bus to her hometown in Satara district when the accused, who was roaming around the premises, approached her under false pretences.

According to the police, Gade misled the woman by directing her to another bus, falsely claiming it was headed for her destination. Trusting his words, she boarded the bus, only for the accused to follow her and commit the crime inside before fleeing the scene.

The traumatised woman later managed to take another bus to her hometown, where she informed her friend about the assault and subsequently lodged a police complaint.

Pune Deputy Commissioner of Police Smartana Patil confirmed that Gade has a history of criminal offences and was previously booked by Pune Rural Police. Authorities are actively tracking him down to bring him to justice.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has taken swift action by ordering a departmental inquiry against the station master and depot manager at Swargate bus stand.

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has also replaced security guards at the premises and has been directed to submit a detailed report within seven days.

According to a statement by the MSRTC, in light of rising female ridership under the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana,’ Sarnaik has convened a meeting of senior transport officials to enhance safety measures for women passengers. He also warned that any negligence on the part of officials will result in immediate suspension.

The case has sparked outrage, raising serious concerns over security at public transport hubs, and authorities are under pressure to ensure swift justice for the victim while reinforcing safety protocols for women travellers.