Special Correspondent
Pune: The location of the accused in the Swargate rape case has been identified, and he is being tracked accordingly, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Yogesh Kadam. He clarified that the police identified the accused within 30 minutes of receiving the complaint and immediately began efforts to track him. He asserted that there was no attempt to cover up the case, but rather, secrecy was maintained to ensure the suspect did not evade capture.
The shocking incident of a 26-year-old woman being raped at the Swargate ST bus station in Pune came to light on Wednesday morning. Addressing a press conference, Minister Kadam stated, “A misconception is being spread that the incident occurred in the morning but was not reported until the following day. However, as soon as the complaint was received, the accused was identified within 30 minutes. To prevent him from becoming alert and fleeing, the information was not made public immediately. If it had been disclosed earlier, we might not have obtained his current location.”
The minister further added that the crime took place within the ST bus stand premises, and he had reviewed police patrol records from midnight to 6 AM. CCTV footage confirms that a police inspector had patrolled the area. “There was no negligence by the police. They were alert. The accused already has a criminal record,” he said.
A total of 13 teams have been deployed to track down the accused, who is a habitual offender with multiple past cases registered against him. Currently out on bail, he is now the subject of an intensive police search. Pune Police have announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his arrest, and his family is being questioned as part of the investigation.
Following the incident, 23 security guards posted at Swargate Bus Stand have been suspended for negligence. The case has also drawn the attention of the National Commission for Women (NCW). Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to Maharashtra Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, directing Pune Police to submit an investigation report, along with a copy of the FIR, within three days.
