Special Correspondent
Pune – The Maharashtra state government has sanctioned financial aid of ₹3 lakh for the victim of the Swargate bus stand rape case. The assistance will be provided under the ‘Manodharya’ scheme, which aims to support the mental and social rehabilitation of survivors of such crimes.
The District Legal Services Authority has completed the necessary formalities, and the amount will soon be disbursed to the survivor.
This horrifying incident took place in the early hours of February 25, 2025, inside a Shivshahi bus parked at the Swargate ST depot. The accused, Dattatray Gade, was arrested by the police and initially remanded to 12 days of police custody, after which he was sent to judicial custody.
In a letter to the Principal Secretary of the State Law and Judiciary Department, the survivor has requested that Advocate Asim Sarode be appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor in the case. She also expressed dissatisfaction with the Pune Police’s handling of the matter.
Shocking details have emerged from her letter, in which she stated that after raping her twice, the accused attempted a third assault, but fled the scene after she put up strong resistance.
The case has sparked widespread outrage and renewed discussions about the safety of women in public spaces, particularly within government-operated transport systems.
