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A Pune court has remanded Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, accused of raping a 26-year-old woman at Swargate bus depot, to police custody until March 12. During the hearing on Friday, police informed the court that Gade had raped the victim twice inside a government-run Shivshahi bus in the early hours of February 25. The accused allegedly gained the victim’s trust by repeatedly addressing her as 'tai' (sister).

Gade, 37, was arrested from his native village, Gunat in Shirur taluka, around 1:10 am on Friday after an intensive three-day search. Following his arrest, he was taken to Sassoon Hospital for a medical examination before being presented before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) T S Gaygole at 6:15 pm. Senior police inspector Yuvraj Nandre led the police team handling the case.

Accused Misled Victim, Lured Her Into Bus 

According to police, the victim was waiting at Swargate bus depot around 5:30 am to board a bus to her hometown in Satara district. Gade, who was loitering in the area, allegedly approached her and asked, “Tai, kuthe challis tu?” (Sister, where are you headed?). When she responded, he falsely informed her that the bus to her destination was parked elsewhere and led her to a Shivshahi bus stationed at the depot, reported Indian Express.

Once inside, the victim noticed the bus was dark, to which the accused responded that passengers might be sleeping and advised her to use her mobile phone flashlight. As she switched on the light and saw the bus was empty, she expressed her intention to leave, saying, “Dada, mala baher jau dya, mala ghari jayche ahe” (Brother, let me go; I have to go home). However, Gade allegedly overpowered her and raped her twice before fleeing the scene, leaving her in distress, the report added.

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Victim Informed Friend, Filed FIR 

After the assault, the victim boarded another bus and travelled to Hadapsar, where she informed a male friend over the phone. He encouraged her to report the incident to the police. She subsequently approached Swargate police station around 9 am and lodged a complaint. An FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 64 and 351(2).

Police Identify Accused Through CCTV Footage 

Investigators used CCTV footage from Swargate bus depot and surrounding locations to identify and track down the accused. They revealed that Gade was a history-sheeter with six prior criminal cases, five of which involved women. This pattern, police stated, highlighted his approach towards women and justified the need for further investigation.

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Police sought Gade’s custody to conduct his medical examination, seize his mobile phone and clothes from the crime scene, and investigate whether he had committed similar offences in the past. Assistant Public Prosecutor Bhagyashree Sancheti Dagale argued that police custody was necessary to probe the case, calling it a "very serious offence." Defense lawyers, however, contested the allegations, claiming that the victim and accused had consensual relations, but the court granted remand until March 12 for further investigation.