Pune Rape Case, Dattatray Ramdas Arrested: A 37-year-old history-sheeter, Dattatray Gade, accused of raping a 26-year-old woman inside a bus at Pune’s Swargate bus station, was arrested on Friday. The Pune Police detained him around midnight in Shirur Tehsil following an extensive manhunt. Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud condemned the incident, calling it a “Nirbhaya moment” and emphasizing the need for better law enforcement.
Who is Dattatray Gade?
Gade is a repeat offender with multiple criminal cases against him, including theft, robbery, and chain-snatching in Pune and Ahilyanagar districts. Despite his long history of crimes, he had been out on bail since 2019 in a robbery case. Cases have been registered against him at Shikrapur and Shirur police stations, and he was summoned earlier in 2024 for a theft case in Pune.
Massive Manhunt Leads to Arrest
To nab Gade, Pune Police deployed 13 teams across the state, using sniffer dogs and drones to track him down in the sugarcane fields of Shirur Tehsil. His arrest comes days after the alleged rape incident inside an ST bus at the Swargate bus depot on Tuesday morning.
Former CJI Calls for Stronger Action
Reacting to the incident, former CJI DY Chandrachud highlighted that while laws have been strengthened post-Nirbhaya, effective implementation, swift trials, and strict punishment are crucial in preventing such crimes. He stressed the need for women’s safety and accountability in the legal system.
Gade is currently in police custody, and further investigation is underway.
