The man accused of raping a 26-year-old woman inside a bus at Pune's Swargate depot has been arrested in Maharashtra's Shirur during a late-night operation, police said on Friday.

The accused, Dattatray Ramdas Gade (37), was hiding on a farm in Shirur. Since yesterday, 13 teams of Pune Police have been searching for him. Late at night, he went to someone’s house for a meal, and that person immediately informed the police, leading to his arrest, officials said.

About the incident

He took the womanto an empty 'Shiv Shahi' AC bus parked nearby. Since the lights were off inside, she was unsure about entering, but he convinced her it was the right bus. Once she stepped in, Gade followed her and raped her, the woman, who works in the medical field, told the police.

The incident caused huge outrage, with many people, including political leaders, demanding strict action and justice. Gade, from Gunat village in Pune, has been involved in several cases of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching in Pune and Ahilyanagar districts. He has been out on bail since 2019 in one of these cases.

As Gade was missing for over two days, a reward of ₹1 lakh was announced for anyone who could provide information about his location. A special hotline number was also shared for tip-offs. On Friday, Pune City and Pune Rural Police searched Gunat village, including sugarcane fields, using drones and dog squads. Over 100 police officers were involved in the operation, officials said.

Swargate in Pune is one of the biggest bus depots of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).

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