Pune: After an extensive 65-hour search operation, Pune police successfully arrested Dattatray Ramdash Gade, the prime accused in the rape incident that occurred on a state transport (ST) bus parked at the Swargate ST stand. Gade had been on the run since committing the heinous crime, prompting a large-scale manhunt involving 13 police teams, including the crime branch and a dog squad. The search spanned through a sugarcane field in Shirur, where Gade was last suspected to be hiding.

What Led To Arrest Of Accused Dattatray Gade?

The breakthrough came around 10:30 pm when Gade showed up at his relative Mahesh Bahirat’s house in Ghunat village, Shirur. His relatives acted promptly, informing the police about his presence. During his brief visit, Gade reportedly asked for water and, in a moment of apparent remorse, told his relatives, "I have made a huge mistake. I need to surrender." However, he fled the house immediately after.

Acting on this tip-off, the police intensified their search in the surrounding area and deployed a dog squad to track Gade’s movements. During the operation, officers discovered a discarded shirt belonging to Gade and provided its scent to the dog squad. The trained dogs traced his scent trail but found that he had not retraced his original route.

Locals Alerted Cops About Gade's Presence

Instead, Gade had ingeniously dug a small trench near a baby canal close to his relative’s house and concealed himself within it. His hiding spot was so discreet that it might have gone unnoticed if not for alert local villagers who spotted him and confirmed his identity. The police then swiftly moved in and arrested him.

Following his capture, Gade was immediately transported to Pune. The special investigation team from Swargate Police Station took him into custody. He is scheduled to be produced in court today, where the authorities are expected to seek his remand for further investigation.