MoS home gives police clean chit, points out security lapses at Swargate bus stand

Maharashtra minister of state (MoS) for home (urban) Yogesh Kadam on Thursday absolved Pune police of any lapses in the investigation of Swargate bus stand rape case and held the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) depot manager and the private security agency responsible for security failures.

- Nadeem Inamdar

PUNE:

Kadam said CCTV footages showed the police patrolling the area during the night, but private security personnel were lax in their duties. "The responsibility of security lay with the private guards, but they were found negligent. Since there was no resistance or shouting, passengers near the bus where the crime took place remained unaware of the incident," he said.

"MSRTC has appointed a private agency to ensure round-the-clock security, and it was the depot manager's duty to monitor them. If the security system had functioned properly, the crime could have been prevented," he said.