Pune, Feb 26: A massive manhunt has been launched to apprehend a man with a criminal history who allegedly raped a 26-year-old woman inside a stationary Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at Pune's busy Swargate bus stand, police confirmed on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Datta Gade, has a prior record of theft and chain snatching, according to officials from the Swargate police station.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when the woman was waiting for a bus to Paithan at around 5:30 AM. A man approached her, claiming that her bus had arrived at a different platform. He then led her to an empty bus parked in a secluded area within the station premises. Under the cover of darkness, he followed her inside and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene, the police reported.
Authorities identified Gade using CCTV footage, and multiple teams have been deployed to track him down. Swargate, being one of the largest MSRTC bus junctions, is a high-traffic area, intensifying concerns over passenger safety.
The police are continuing their investigation and have assured swift action against the accused.
