13 Police Teams, Sniffer Dogs and Drones in Massive Manhunt for Pune Bus Rape Accused
Despite 13 police teams—eight from the Crime Branch and five from Swargate station—combing Pune and beyond, Gade remains absconding.
Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the 36-year-old suspect in the brutal rape of a 26-year-old medical worker inside a parked bus at Pune’s Swargate Bus Stand, may be hiding in sugarcane fields near his hometown, police sources revealed. The assault, which occurred on February 25 just 100 meters from a police station, has triggered a massive manhunt and public outrage.
The incident unfolded at 5:45 AM when Gade, posing as a helpful stranger, lured the victim onto an empty Shiv Shahi AC bus by calling her "didi" (sister) and claiming it was her ride to Phaltan. After raping her and issuing threats, he fled. CCTV footage aided police in identifying Gade, a known criminal with a history of theft and robbery, out on bail since 2019. Sources say he slipped Pune’s dragnet by hiding in a vegetable truck, reaching his hometown where he changed clothes and shoes before vanishing into sugarcane fields.
With plants growing up to 10 feet tall, ground searches proved challenging, prompting police to deploy sniffer dogs and drones. Thirteen special teams—eight from the Crime Branch and five from Swargate station—are scouring the region, backed by a ₹1 lakh reward. Family and associates have been questioned as the hunt intensifies.
The case has drawn sharp responses from Maharashtra’s leadership. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde vowed Gade “would not be spared,” while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar demanded capital punishment. Protests have erupted over security lapses at the depot, and the National Commission for Women has pressed for swift action. As drones scan the fields, the pursuit of justice continues for a crime that has shaken Pune to its core.
