Pune Rape Case Latest Updates: Cops release poster of accused; Eknath Shinde says, ‘culprit will not be spared’

Pune Rape Case Latest Updates: A 26-year-old woman was raped inside MSRTC Shivsahi bus at the busy Swargate bus stand in Pune, police said on Wednesday. Police said on Wednesday that multiple teams are looking for the accused Dattatray Ramdas Gade.

Who is the accused in the case?

Pune police registered a case against the man named Dattatray Ramdas Gade.

What happened in the case?

DCP Smartana Patil said on Wednesday that a working woman was heading to her village and "was waiting for a bus to go back to her home around 5:30, 6:30 [am]". The incident took place on Tuesday when the rape survivor, a working woman, was waiting for a bus to return home to Phaltan, which is located around 100 km away. She was allegedly approached by the accused, who falsely claimed that the bus to her destination was parked elsewhere. He led her to a MSRTC Shivsahi bus parked in the depot and followed her in where he allegedly raped her.

What we know so far?

Pune City Police on Thursday said they have expanded their efforts to apprehend the accused in the Swargate bus depot rape case, who has been on the run since Tuesday. They have also announced a ₹one lakh cash reward to nab the accused identified as Dattatray Ramdas Gade.

A total of 13 teams have been deployed to track down the suspect, with eight teams from the Crime Branch and five teams from Swargate Police Station working on the ground. Police teams have even been dispatched outside the district to intensify the search, they said.

Smartana Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone II, Pune said, "We have declared a ₹one lakh cash award for the person who helps in nabbing the accused. We have sent the bus for forensic investigation. Our teams have been working day and night since the incident happened."

Catch all LIVE Updates on Pune Rape Case here.

3.30 PM: Cops release poster of accused, offer ₹1 Lakh reward for information

Pune city police have released a poster of the wanted accused, urging the public to come forward with information.

As per the poster, "A case has been registered under section 64, 351(2) of 2023 and the said case is accused named Dattatray Ramdas Gade, age 37 years, Res. Gunat T. Shirur, Distt. Pune and he is a wanted accused in the registered crime. Information about accused Dattatray Gade Rs. 1,00,000/- (one lakh rupees) will be awarded. The name of the informant will be kept confidential."

2.55 PM: Amid Pune bus rape case, parents of RG Kar rape and murder victim meet CBI director, ‘No sign of justice'

RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim's parents arrive in Delhi to meet the CBI Director. The father while speaking to ANI said, “7 months have passed by. There is no sign of justice till now. We have come here to meet the CBI director and our Supreme Court lawyer. We were begging for justice, but now we are fighting for it…”

2.22 PM: Eknath Shinde says, ‘culprit will not be spared, be it…’

On the Pune rape case, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde told reporters, "The culprit in this case will not be spared, be it whoever he is. Strict action will be taken against him..."

1.52 PM: ‘Police do not care if…’, says Maharashtra MoS Home

On being asked if the accused in the Pune bus rape case has a political connection, Maharashtra MoS Home, Yogesh Ramdas Kadam says, "The one who has committed this incident is an accused, and we do not see them as a political figure. He will be treated as an accused; the police do not care if he is connected to any political person, and this will not affect the actions that we are going to take."

1.40 PM: Where was the rape incident occured?

Pune's Swargate terminus, one of the city's busiest transport hubs, was the location of the alleged rape incident. Swargate is one of the three bus stations of MSRTC in Pune city and caters to destinations in all parts of Maharashtra. It also receives buses from adjoining states like Karnataka, PTI reported.

1.34 PM: Who is Dattatray Ramdas Gade?

1. Dattatraya Ramdas Gade has a history of criminal activity, with six cases of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching registered against him in Pune and the neighbouring Ahilyanagar district, according to a Swargate police station official, as reported by PTI.

2. Gade has been out on bail since 2019 for one of these offences. Earlier, in 2024, the Pune police had summoned Gade to the station for questioning in connection with a theft case. On Wednesday, the Pune police questioned one of Gade's brothers

1.30 PM: ₹1 lakh reward for information about absconding accused

Pune Police on Thursday announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of a history-sheeter who allegedly raped a 26-year-old woman inside a state transport bus at the Swargate bus station here, officials said as reported by PTI.

1:15 PM: Ex-CJI DY Chandrachud, says ‘there should be proper investigation, strong action’

DY Chandrachud spoke on the Pune bus rape incident and said that significant changes were made in the legal framework following the 'Nirbhaya' incident, however, he added that laws alone cannot prevent such crimes.

“A lot of changes were made in the laws following the 'Nirbhaya' incident, however, we can not prevent such incident by only having laws. There is a great responsibility on the society and apart from this the implementation of laws should be there. Laws made for women should be implemented properly,” he said as quoted by PTI Videos.

Further adding, he said, "Women should feel safe wherever they go. It is important that in such cases, there should be proper investigation, strong action, quick trial and punishment. The legal system and the police have a big responsibility."

1.00 PM: Maharashtra MoS Home Yogesh Ramdas shares update, says ‘Some misinformation is being spread’

While speaking to reporters, Maharashtra MoS Home, Yogesh Ramdas Kadam said refuted claims that the investigation started late. “There is nothing like that".

He added, "Day before yesterday, the incident which happened in the Swargate, I am here today to review that incident...After receiving the complaint, police started an investigation immediately...Police are searching for the accused, and very soon, he will be arrested.

12.59: Leaders, party workers of NCP-SCP stage protest outside Swargate police station

Leaders and party workers of NCP-SCP staged a protest outside Swargate police station against the Pune Swargate bus depot rape incident.

12.53 PM: Pune CP Amitesh Kumar and Joint CP Ranjan Kumar Sharma Visit Swargate Police Station