Judicial Custody for Swargate Bus Rape Suspect

A Maharashtra court remanded Dattatray Gade, accused in the Swargate bus rape case, to judicial custody until March 26. Gade allegedly raped a 26-year-old woman on a stationary bus after posing as a conductor. Police tracked him down using drones and sniffer dogs following the incident.

A Maharashtra court has placed Dattatray Gade, the suspect in the Swargate bus rape case, into judicial custody until March 26. The accused, Gade, is alleged to have raped a 26-year-old woman inside a stationary state transport bus at the Swargate terminus early on February 25.

According to police, the victim was waiting for a bus to her hometown in Satara when Gade posed as a bus conductor and offered to guide her to a waiting bus. Once inside an unlit bus, the accused reportedly followed her, locked the doors, and committed the alleged crime.

After completing a 12-day police custody period, Gade was brought to court, where the authorities reserved two days' rights for police custody. Officers tracked Gade to an agricultural field in Pune district with drones and sniffer dogs, given his history of criminal activity.

(With inputs from agencies.)