Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the 37-year-old man accused of raping a woman inside a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus parked at Swargate depot on February 25. (Source: File)Authorities in Pune have arrested a man suspected of raping a 26-year-old woman inside a government-operated bus stationed at the Swargate depot, following an intensive search operation involving multiple police stations.The suspect, identified as Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, 37, a resident of Gunat village in Shirur, was apprehended early Friday, according to the police. Gade had been on the run since Tuesday, when the alleged attack took place in the Swargate depot, one of Pune’s busiest bus terminals.Authorities had said the incident occurred at around 5:30 am Tuesday, when the victim, who had been waiting to board a bus to her hometown in Satara, was approached by Gade. He allegedly lured the woman to an empty, air-conditioned Shivshahi bus, part of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation fleet, where he assaulted her. The bus’s windows were sealed shut, preventing any immediate outside help.After the attack, the woman reported the crime to Swargate police, leading to the filing of a first information report (FIR). Investigators quickly launched a search for Gade, using CCTV footage from the depot and other locations to identify him. Their investigation revealed that Gade had fled to his home in Shirur after the assault.In a joint operation, teams from Pune city and Pune rural police scoured the area around Gunat village, searching nearby sugarcane fields and deploying drones and a dog squad to track the suspect. Gade was eventually arrested in the early hours of Saturday.Gade is no stranger to the law, police said. He has a history of criminal activity, with six previous cases against him, including charges of robbery and mobile phone theft in Pune and Ahmednagar. In 2020, authorities took preventive measures against him under Section 110 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which deals with habitual offenders. At the time of his arrest, Gade was out on bail and living with his family, including his wife, young son, brother, and parents in Gunat.The accused is currently in police custody and is expected to face multiple charges related to the assault. Authorities are continuing their investigation, with additional details expected in the coming days.Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:pune