A chilling crime has rocked Pune, as a 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a state transport bus parked at the Swargate ST bus stand late Tuesday night, February 25, 2025. The accused, Vishnu Ramchandra Gahadwal, a 35-year-old cleaner employed by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), remains at large, intensifying public anger and scrutiny over safety in public spaces.
The incident unfolded around midnight at the bustling Swargate depot, a key transit hub in the city. The victim, who had arrived at the stand around 11 PM to board a bus to her village in Satara district, found no immediate transport available. Exhausted, she decided to rest inside a parked Shivshahi bus. It was there that Gahadwal, tasked with cleaning the vehicle, allegedly took advantage of her vulnerability. Police reports indicate that after she fell asleep, he assaulted her. The woman managed to escape and alerted authorities, filing a complaint with the Swargate police around 1 AM on Wednesday.
The police swiftly registered a case under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and launched a manhunt for Gahadwal, who fled the scene. Efforts to track him down are underway, with investigators combing through CCTV footage from the bus stand for clues. MSRTC officials have confirmed Gahadwal’s identity and employment, distancing the organization from his actions while pledging cooperation with the probe.
This brazen crime, occurring mere steps from a police station within the depot, has ignited outrage among residents and activists. “How can such a thing happen in a public place like Swargate, where people assume some level of safety?” asked a local commuter, echoing a sentiment felt across the city. The incident adds to growing concerns about crimes against women in Pune, with police data showing a rise in rape and molestation cases in recent years.
The victim’s courage in reporting the assault has been met with support, but questions linger about how such an attack could occur undetected in a busy transport hub. Authorities have promised swift action, and with Gahadwal still on the run as of Wednesday afternoon, the search continues to dominate local attention.