Maharashtra Police intensified their investigation into the Pune bus rape case, leading to the arrest of the accused, Dattatray Ramdas Gade, 37. Gade had been on the run after allegedly raping a woman inside a bus at Swargate bus station in Pune early Tuesday.
His arrest was made possible by a crucial tip-off from a local family who unknowingly assisted the police in tracking him down. According to PTI, after evading a manhunt involving drones and sniffer dogs, Gade approached a house requesting food and water, which ultimately led to his capture.
How the Police Tracked Him Down
Pune Joint Commissioner of Police, Ranjan Kumar Sharma, confirmed that the family informed authorities about Gade’s presence in the area. The police resumed their search and later found him hiding in a paddy field in Shirur tehsil around midnight.
A ligature mark was found on Gade’s neck, suggesting a possible suicide attempt. “The search in sugarcane fields was halted at night. However, we received information that Gade had visited a house asking for food. We rushed to the location, but he fled,” said an official.
History of Crimes
Gade, a known criminal, has been named in multiple theft, robbery, and chain-snatching cases across Pune and Ahilyanagar districts. He had been out on bail since 2019.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated, “The accused will be presented in court today. A special unit will investigate the case, and we will push for a fast-track trial.”