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.

Kolkata, Feb 26: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is stressing heavily on circumstantial evidence to build up a strong case in the angle of tampering with and altering evidence in the R.G. Kar rape and murder tragedy, the supplementary charge sheet for which is expected to be filed at a special court in Kolkata soon.

The CBI counsel, on February 24, informed the special court that their investigation into the matter is underway and a supplementary charge sheet will be filed shortly. Incidentally, this special court had recently sentenced the sole convict in the crime of rape and murder and a civic volunteer Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment.

Sources aware of the development said that in the exercise of stressing the circumstantial evidence the most crucial tool in the hand of the investigating officials is the mobile SIM card of the erstwhile SHO of Tala Police station Abhijit Mondal.

That is why, a CBI insider said, the central agency counsel had on February 24 opposed the application from Mondal to get back his mobile SIM.

He also confirmed that the investigating officials secured several circumstantial evidence as regards attempts made to first pass on the rape and murder event as a case of suicide and thereafter to destroy evidence in the matter.

The findings based on such circumstantial evidence will be the basis of the supplementary charge sheet to be filed at a special court soon, the CBI insider said.

Circumstantial evidence is indirect evidence that supports a claim by making logical inferences and is often used in criminal and civil investigations.

At the same time, sources said, some elements in the status report of the investigation that the CBI had already submitted to the Supreme Court, will also be included in the proposed supplementary charge sheet.

In all probability, sources said, the CBI will file the charge sheet at the special court in Kolkata before the next hearing at the apex court scheduled on March 17 this year.

To recall, the CBI also arrested both Mondal and the former and controversial principal of R.G. Kar Sandip Ghosh on charges of tampering with and altering evidence.

But both were granted “default bail” by the special court as the CBI failed to file a supplementary charge sheet against them within 90 days from the date of their arrests.

Mondal is currently out on bail. However, Ghosh is still in judicial custody because of the pending and parallel investigation against him by CBI in the case of multi-crore financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital.