PUNE: The alleged rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a parked bus at Pune’s Swargate terminus has drawn unsettling parallels with the 2012 Delhi bus rape and the 2024 rape-murder of a resident doctor in Kolkata.
All three crimes involved brutal attacks in public or secure locations, highlighting persistent issues of women’s safety and systemic failures in protecting them.
A preoperative counsellor with a Pune hospital was allegedly raped inside a parked bus at the city’s Swargate terminus around 5.30am on Tuesday.
The Pune survivor was at Swargate bus depot to take a morning bus home when the accused approached her.
A little later, he told her that a bus is parked nearby, where passengers usually board in advance. He led her to the bus, and when she entered to check for seats, he followed her inside, bolted the door and raped her.
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The bus had been parked overnight at Swargate, with the driver and conductor resting at the depot’s quarters.
The accused is a criminal with past cases of theft and robbery. Police teams are combing CCTV camera footage and local networks to track the fugitive suspect.
Swargate is Pune’s busiest transport hub, which sees daily footfalls of 60,000 passengers and 600 bus movements. A police station is located opposite the bus terminus, raising concerns over security lapses.
Also read: How city bus became a trap
“The woman is from Phaltan in Satara district and stays in Aundh. She works as a preoperative counsellor with acity hospital where she educates patients about their surgeries, including risks, benefits, and care arrangements, to help them prepare psychologically for surgeries and reduce anxiety. She reported the matter to police around 9.30am on Tuesday, following which she was referred to medical examination. After an initial inquiry, the FIR was lodged on Tuesday evening,” Deputy commissioner of police (Zone II) Smartana Patil told TOI on Wednesday.
“After the assault, the survivor was so traumatised that she couldn’t raise an alarm,” DCP Smartana Patil added.
“We have identified the suspect, who has previous pending cases of theft and robbery to his name at Shikrapur and Shirur police stations in rural Pune. He is seen in CCTV camera footage stepping out of the bus along with the survivor. We have formed eight teams to trace and arrest him at the earliest. We suspect he might have been at the bus terminus for bag lifting,” the DCP said.
Traumatised survivor returns to Pune, reports crime after friend’s call
The 26-year-old woman, allegedly raped inside a stationary Shivshahi bus at Swargate depot, initially left for Phaltan in a state of shock but later returned to Pune to report the crime after a friend urged her to do so.
Also read: Traumatised survivor returns to city, goes to police after friend’s call
Shaken by the incident, the woman boarded a bus to Phaltan but received a call from a friend during the journey.
After narrating the ordeal, she was advised to return and inform the police. Based on her complaint, authorities examined CCTV footage, identified the suspect as a known offender, and launched a search operation in Shirur taluka.
However, he remains absconding.
Fear at Swargate Terminus
The incident has raised concerns over security lapses at one of Pune’s busiest transport hubs. Commuters described the depot as chaotic and unsafe, particularly for women, due to poor vigilance.
Despite handling a daily footfall of 60,000 passengers and 600 bus movements, the terminus lacks proper monitoring, with private vehicles and bikers freely accessing restricted areas. Many buses remain unlocked, and security personnel are often absent, heightening safety risks.
MSRTC had introduced security measures after the 2012 Santosh Mane rampage, but their enforcement has been lax. Commuters are now demanding stricter surveillance and immediate action to prevent further incidents.
23 security guards removed
At least 23 security guards have been removed from their posts. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will appoint new guards and submit a detailed report within seven days.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has ordered a departmental inquiry against the depot manager and assistant traffic superintendent, warning that guilty officials will be suspended. He has also called for an urgent meeting at Mantralaya to discuss women’s safety in state transport buses.
Addressing concerns over security lapses, Sarnaik directed immediate disposal of scrapped buses inside depots, stating that their neglect has turned them into hubs for illegal activities.
Shiv Sena (UBT) workers vandalise Swargate ticket cabin
Hours after Shiv Sena (UBT) members ransacked the ticket booking cabin at MSRTC’s Swargate bus depot on Wednesday, Pune police intensified security around the Shivshahi bus where a preoperative counsellor was raped.
Protesters broke glass panes, damaged furniture, and pulled out cables before forcing staffers to vacate the cabin. Despite the vandalism, MSRTC officials had not lodged a complaint as of Wednesday night. Police expect them to do so on Thursday.
Security has been tightened around the crime scene, with additional barricades and personnel deployed. Authorities noted that protestors were attempting to get close to the bus, prompting enhanced bandobast.
The 2009 Bombay High Court directive holds vandals accountable for damage to public property, making political parties liable for such acts.
Ajit Pawar promises culprit’s arrest & justice to survivor
The state govt on Wednesday assured strict action against the culprit. Deputy chief minister and Pune’s guardian minister Ajit Pawar said, “The incident is unfortunate and inhuman. Govt will not tolerate any such crime and we will ensure that capital punishment is awarded to the culprit.”
He added that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken serious cognisance of the crime. “We both are in touch with the Pune police commissioner. Govt will take all possible steps to arrest the culprit and ensure that justice is delivered to the rape survivor,” he added.
(With inputs from Gitesh Shelke, Sarang Dastane, Somit Sen, Anurag Bende, Joysen Gupta)
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
