Pune: Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar clarifies on Rs 1 lakh award in Swargate bus stand rape case

Pune: The police formed eight teams to nab the culprit in the Swargate bus stand rape case. They could not trace him for three days. Finally, a tip-off led to his arrest.

Over 100 policemen, a drone and a sniffer dog were pressed into service to search Dattatraya Gade from Gunat village in Shirur taluka of the district.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar also announced Rs 1 lakh award for anyone helping police arrest the accused. CP Kumar has thanked villagers for helping the police and would travel to Gunat to felicitate them.

Kumar said, “We identified the accused within a couple of hours after checking the footage from 23 CCTVs on the bus stand premises and from 48 CCTVs from outside. We were searching for him at his native for the past two days. We could not trace him but finally, nabbed him. I thank villagers for their help. I will visit the village and felicitate them. We will particularly congratulate those personally who helped the police.

“We held him using the last tip-off. We came to know that he sought drinking water at a house. He was seen escaping from there. He was arrested with the help of a drone, which showed the exact direction of the culprit. Rs 1 lakh award will be given to the person who gave the last tip-off. We will also do something for the village.

“It took some time to nab the accused but finally, he was arrested. He will be produced before the court today.”

Gade’s suicide attempt?

Kumar said, “Preliminary medical investigation suggested that the accused had a mark of rope around his neck. He told the police that he tried to end his life. He was saved as the rope broke and other people arrived at the spot.

“A team will be sent to the village to find out whether he really tried to commit suicide. But a preliminary medical check-up showed a rope mark around his neck.”