The Crime Branch of the Pune City Police has filed an 893-page chargesheet against Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, the accused in the Swargate bus depot rape case. Senior Police Inspector Shailesh Sankhe submitted the chargesheet before a magistrate court in Pune on Thursday.
Know about the Swargate bus depot rape case:
Gade allegedly raped a 26-year-old health counsellor in a government-operated Shivshahi bus that was parked at the Swargate bus depot in the early hours of February 25. After the incident, the accused fled from the spot, while the victim boarded another bus for her hometown in Solapur district.
On reaching Hadapsar, the victim spoke with her friend over the phone, who insisted she approach the police. She then returned and lodged an FIR at the Swargate Police Station.
The police then launched an extensive operation using drones and a dog squad to nab the accused. He was finally arrested from his village in Shirur taluka on February 28 and booked under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Sections 64, 64(2)M, 351(2), 115(2), and 127(2).
What does the police say?
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingale told TOI that they have collected enough evidence that links Gade to the crime and establishes his guilt.
"DNA reports related to semen, nail and hair samples of the accused came out positive. DNA reports of hair samples of the accused and the survivor collected from the bus also came out positive. A sound output study or comparative voice-level analysis aimed at scientifically establishing if the survivor's cries for help from inside the bus could have been heard by people outside, and a Google search history location to establish the presence of the accused at the depot, are part of a total of 12 panchanamas submitted in support of our case," Pingale said.
Besides, the victim has identified the accused in a test identification parade (TIP) — another crucial piece of evidence, added the DCP.
He further said that a total of 82 witnesses have been named in the chargesheet, with the victim herself being the star witness.
