Pune: Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar expressed gratitude to the residents of Gunat for their assistance in apprehending the suspect involved in the Pune rape case. He announced that the accused would be presented in court and a special counsel would be appointed for the case.
The accused was detained in Gunat village around 1:10 am, thanks to the cooperation of approximately 400-500 local citizens and the efforts of nearly 500 police officers who had been working on the case for three days. The police utilized a dog squad and drone cameras, which provided valuable leads despite some delays in the operation.
Kumar emphasized the police’s commitment to building a strong case and mentioned that the accused would be formally arrested and brought to court today. He also plans to visit Gunat to honor the villagers who aided in the search.
The suspect, identified as Dattatray Ramdas Gade, had been on the run since the incident on Tuesday when the rape survivor, a working woman, was misled by him while waiting for a bus to Phaltan, about 100 km away. He allegedly took her to a bus where the assault occurred.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey demanded the maximum punishment for the accused, expressing concern over rising crime in Pune and questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement. He also suggested the possibility of a gang being involved and called for an investigation into the matter.
In response to the incident, Maharashtra’s Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced a departmental inquiry against the Assistant Transport Superintendent and the Bus Depot Manager of the Swargate Bus Depot in Pune.