Kolkata, Feb 27: The parents of the victim in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case have sought the appointment of the Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complain about the reluctance of the investigating officials in updating them about the progress of the investigation.

The victim’s parents also left for Delhi on Thursday morning, and after reaching there, they will try to reach out to the CBI Director about the matter. At the national capital, they will also be meeting the team of lawyers who are representing them at the Supreme Court.

Noted advocate Karuna Nundy is currently representing the victim’s parents at the apex court, where the next hearing in the matter is scheduled for March 17.

Before leaving for Delhi, the victim’s parents interacted with the media persons and expressed their anguish on the role of CBI’s investigating officials in the matter. They also accused the investigating officers of not answering their phone calls.

“We are going to New Delhi to meet our counsel Karuna Nundy. The legal team who are representing us at the special court in Kolkata are also accompanying us to New Delhi. Some senior medical practitioners are also accompanying us. We will go to the CGO complex in New Delhi and try to meet the CBI director. At the same time, we will be discussing with our counsels on whether the matter can be brought back to Calcutta High Court from the Supreme Court,” the victim’s father told media persons before leaving for the national capital.

The victim’s mother said their main complaint against the CBI is the slow pace of investigation, especially as regards the angle of tampering with or altering of the evidence in the case.

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

Mumbai, Feb 27: NCP-SP Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule on Thursday flagged an old letter written by the Swargate bus depot chief in Maharashtra’s Pune to the police regarding the security situation of the depot. A woman was sexually assaulted on a bus at the depot.

She also said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the home minister, needs to immediately review the law and order situation in Pune and take strict measures regarding women’s safety as well as the safety of bus stations.

Sule’s demand came a day after a 26-year-old was raped inside the bus of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) at the Swargate bus depot in Pune. Further, Sule, who has termed the incident intriguing, said that the chief minister needs to convene a meeting soon as the Swargate bus depot chief recently wrote to the Pune police administration seeking action against the private agents and other anti-social elements who are harassing the passengers.

In her post on X, Sule, who has attached the letter written by the Swargate bus depot chief to the police, said, “After the incident of sexual assault on a young woman in the premises of the Swargate bus station, serious questions have been raised regarding law and order. The Swargate depot chief has already written to the police administration from time to time that private agents and other anti social elements are harassing the passengers at the bus station and action should be taken against them. But still, it does not appear that the police administration has taken any action. The Swargate bus station is a busy place and the police system needs to be more vigilant there. It if the depot chief writes a letter and it is not taken into account the. It is very regrettable. The state home minister needs to immediately review the law and order situation in Pune and take strict measures regarding women’s safety and the safety of the bus station.”

Further, the Maharashtra Legislative Council deputy chairperson, Neelam Gorhe, who is also the founder of Stree Aadhar Kendra, has asked the police administration and transport department for the establishment of women’s vigilance committees at all bus stations in the state to further increase women’s safety.

Gorhe, who had visited the Swargate bus depot and the bus in which the sexual assault took place, also instructed that the number of security guards at bus depots should be increased and that the depot administration should regularly check CCTV footage, especially during the night.

Meanwhile, Pune police have formed 13 teams to arrest Dattatray Gade, a history sheeter involved in the bus rape incident. The police have also announced an award of Rs one lakh for giving information about Gade, who is still at large.

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.