PUNE: Pune City Police arrested Dattatray Ramdas Gade in the early hours of Friday from his village, Gunat, in Shirur Taluka, around 100km from Pune. The arrest took place at around 1.30am after an extensive search operation involving over 100 police personnel. The operation to track down Gade began on Wednesday evening after authorities traced his location to the village. He had been on the run since early Tuesday morning after allegedly raping a health counselor inside a Shivshahi bus parked overnight at the Swargate terminus. To expedite the search and ensure a swift arrest, eight dedicated police teams worked on multiple leads, and a reward of Rs 1 lakh was announced for any crucial information leading to his immediate capture.
Who is Dattatray Ramdas Gade?Identity & background: Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, a 36-year-old man, is a resident of Shirur tehsil in Pune district.
Criminal record: Gade has been involved in at least six criminal cases over the past five years, including charges of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching. These cases were registered in Ahilyanagar district, as well as in Shikrapur and Shirur, both located in rural Pune.
Nature of offences: He has been named in multiple cases related to theft, robbery, and chain-snatching. His criminal history indicates a pattern of involvement in unlawful activities.
Bail & past arrests: Dattatraya Ramdas Gade had been out on bail since 2019 in connection with one of his previous offences. Additionally, in January 2024, he was arrested at the Swargate terminus for attempting to snatch a cellphone. This was confirmed by Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar.
Political controversy: A controversy has erupted regarding Gade’s political links after an old poster surfaced on social media. The poster, dated August 30, 2023, was a birthday greeting for former MLA and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) member Ashok Pawar, raising questions about his associations.