Thu Feb 27 11:53:13 UTC 2025: ## MSRTC Security Blamed After Rape at Pune Bus Depot
**Pune, February 27, 2025** – Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, criticized the private security guards at the Swargate MSRTC bus depot in Pune following the rape of a 26-year-old woman on Tuesday. While acknowledging the arrest of the accused, 37-year-old history-sheeter Dattatray Ramdas Gade, Kadam placed responsibility on the inadequate security provided by a private agency contracted by the MSRTC.
The incident occurred at 6 a.m. on February 25th, with the victim reporting the crime at 9 a.m. Police, utilizing CCTV footage, identified Gade and have formed thirteen teams to apprehend him. Kadam stated that the depot manager should have ensured better oversight of the security guards and that the MSRTC bears ultimate responsibility for the round-the-clock security of the depot.
He rejected the suggestion that a previous letter from the MSRTC to the police regarding anti-social elements at the depot absolved them of security responsibilities. Kadam emphasized the need to focus on apprehending Gade rather than engaging in blame games, although he admitted that improved security measures could have prevented the incident. Discussions are underway between the Home and Transport Ministries to explore deploying police marshals at vulnerable locations. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and other senior officials accompanied Kadam during a visit to the Swargate bus terminal.
First Piper 