After a 75-hour-long chase, Pune Police has finally arrested Dattatraya Ramdas Gade (36), the man accused of raping a 27-year-old woman inside a parked MSRTC bus at Swargate depot—just 100 meters from a police station. Gade, a repeat offender with a history of theft and robbery, was hiding in a village in Shirur Tehsil, where he was tracked down and arrested.
The survivor, who was lured into the dark, empty bus under the pretense of help, bravely reported the crime, leading to a massive police operation. Over 13 teams, drones, and sniffer dogs were deployed, and a ₹1 lakh reward was announced before his capture.
The breakthrough came when Gade reached a relative’s house around 10:30 PM on Thursday. Alerted by his arrival, the family immediately informed the police. Officers discovered a discarded shirt, which helped the dog squad pick up his scent and track his escape route.
Gade had taken cover in a sugarcane field near a canal close to the house. However, it was the villagers who ultimately spotted him hiding in the water. Once identified, the police swiftly moved in and took him into custody.
