Drones, Sniffer Dogs, Human Intelligence: How Police Nabbed Pune Rape Accused After 3-Day Hunt

Pune/Mumbai: A 37-year-old man accused of raping a woman inside a parked state transport bus at Pune’s Swargate depot was arrested on Friday after a massive three-day manhunt involving drones, sniffer dogs, and 13 police teams, officials said.

Accused Tracked Down in Agriculture Field

The accused, Dattatray Ramdas Gade, who had been on the run since the alleged crime on Tuesday morning, was found hiding in a sugarcane field near his native Gunat village in Shirur tehsil. Drones with thermal imaging cameras helped police locate him in the thickly grown crops, they said.

“The accused was in hiding. The police tracked him using different technologies. The details of the entire incident and sequence will be unearthed at the right time,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

Gade was formally arrested and presented in Pune sessions court, which remanded him to police custody till March 12 after hearing arguments from both sides.

Also Read: Delhi's Tis Hazari Court Serves Justice To 7-Year-Old Victim: Sentences Rapist, Murderer To Death

How Police Cracked the Case

Police officials said Gade switched off his mobile phone to avoid tracking but was eventually located after he visited a house asking for water. Acting on this tip, police resumed the search and nabbed him.

“Besides technology, human intelligence played a key role in catching the accused,” an official said.

Police teams searching for him in the village and surrounding fields reported that Gade was discreetly observing their movements. At one point, he attempted suicide by hanging himself from a dry tree, but the rope broke, and his attempt failed, an official added.

Security Audit of Bus Depot Conducted

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said a security audit of the Swargate bus depot was completed.

“We have analysed security measures, doors of buses, dark spots, and other factors. We will discuss these with the state transport department and take formal action soon,” Kumar said.

Also Read: Did Pune Rape Accused Attempt Suicide Before Arrest? Police Spot Ligature Marks on His Neck

Political Reactions & Demand for Shakti Bill Implementation

The case triggered political uproar, with opposition leaders demanding the immediate implementation of the Shakti Bill, which proposes harsher punishments for crimes against women and children.

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said the Shakti Bill was passed four years ago by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government but is still awaiting approval from the Centre.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar blamed the Mahayuti government for delaying the bill, while Fadnavis defended the delay, saying the bill required amendments to align with Supreme Court guidelines and the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam faced backlash for his insensitive remarks about the case, saying the crime "happened silently" without any argument or use of force. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders slammed him, calling his statement irresponsible and insensitive.

The case remains under active investigation.