'I Have Made A Big Mistake': Pune Rape Case Accused Confesses to Raping 26-Year-Old Woman in a Parked Bus

Pune: The main accused in the horrific Pune Bus Rape case, who has been arrested after a 75-hour long manhunt, has confessed to his crime; he has confessed to raping a 26-year-old woman in a stationary bus at the Swargate Bus Station in Pune. The accused also told his family that he must surrender.

‘I Have Made A Big Mistake…’: Dattatraya Ramdas Gade Confesses to the Crime

Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the man accused of raping a 26-year-old medical councillor in a stationary state transport bus at the busy Swargate Bus Station, who has been arrested, has confessed to his crime. The Pune Bus Rape case accused told his family and friends that he has made a big mistake and that he must surrender.

Also Read: 70-Hour Manhunt Ends, Pune Bus Rape Accused Hunted Down After Tip-Off Leads Police to Shirur Farm

Pune Horror: Rape Accused Dattatraya Ramdas Gade Arrested After 70+ Hour Manhunt

The accused in the case, who was on the run since February 25, has now been caught and arrested by the Pune Police; the arrest happened at around midnight, from a village in Pune's Shirur tehsil. Officials reported that Dattatraya Ramdas Gade was found hiding on a farm in Shirur. Late at night, he went to someone's house for a meal, and that individual promptly contacted the police, which ultimately resulted in his arrest. 

The defendant, a habitual offender, has been released on bail since 2019 and has multiple charges against him, including robbery, theft, and chain-snatching. Today, he is scheduled to appear before the Pune Court, where the police will likely request custody to conduct thorough questioning and investigation.

Also Read: Massive Search for Pune Rape Accused: Drones Scan Sugarcane Fields, Dog Squad Deployed

How Was the Pune Bus Rape Accused Arrested?

The Pune Police established 13 teams to apprehend him, consisting of eight from the crime branch and five from the Swargate Police Station. These teams were stationed at various locations throughout Maharashtra , utilizing sniffer dogs and drones as part of their search efforts. The drones and dogs were specifically deployed in the sugarcane fields of Pune's Shirur Tehsil.

Relatives of the suspect have been questioned, but they assert that they do not know his whereabouts. Reports indicate that the suspect eluded police search operations in the city by concealing himself in a vegetable-laden truck. He subsequently returned to his hometown, where he changed his clothes and shoes to avoid being caught. The police have offered a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest, and his photograph has been circulated as well.

Also Read: Accused Called Pune Woman ‘Didi’ Before Raping Her, Details Inside

26-Year-Old Woman Raped in a Bus in Swargate Station in Pune

The victim, a councillor at a hospital, was on her way home from work when the tragic event unfolded. Living in the Aundh-Baner area, she was waiting for a bus at the Swargate ST stand in Phaltan, Satara, around 5:45 am on Tuesday. According to the survivor, as she waited at the platform for a bus to Phaltan, a man approached her. Addressing her as 'didi' (sister), he misled her by claiming that the bus to Satara was at a different platform. He then lured her into an empty ‘Shiv Shahi’ AC bus, and when she hesitated to step inside, he assured her it was indeed the correct bus and that other passengers were already aboard. She entered the bus, he locked the doors from inside and raped her, before fleeing the spot.