Woman Raped Inside Stationary ST Bus at Swargate

We have removed all 23 security guards who are on contractual duty at the bus stand. Vivek Bhimanwar, Transport commissioner

- HT Correspondent

PUNE: A 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a stationary Shivshahi bus belonging to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) at Swargate bus stand, police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Tuesday in the otherwise crowded premises of Swargate state transport (ST) bus stand. After analyzing CCTV footages, the police have identified the accused as Dattatray Ramdas Gade, 36, of Shirur and a criminal on record. The police have formed eight teams to apprehend the suspect.

According to the police, the survivor, who works as a counselor at a hospital in Pune, had reached the ST stand to board a bus to her hometown Phaltan in Satara district. While she was seated on a bench, the accused, posing as a bus conductor, approached her and inquired about her destination. Upon learning that she was traveling to Phaltan, he misled her by claiming that the bus was stationed elsewhere and offered to help her board it.

He led her to a Shivshahi bus, a luxury service run by MSRTC, bearing registration number MH06 BW 0319. When she noticed darkness inside the bus, he assured her that passengers were asleep and asked her to use her mobile torch to check inside. Trusting him, she boarded the bus, after which he allegedly shut the door, sexually assaulted her, and fled the scene.

Deputy commissioner of police Smartana Patil said, "The survivor later boarded another bus to her village. Unsure of what to do, she called a friend and narrated the incident. Following her friend's advice, she returned from Hadapsar and approached the police to file a complaint."