From Bopdev, Swargate To Kondhwa: 5 Rape Cases Which Shook Pune City
In yet another incident of rape, a 22-year-old IT professional was raped after gaining access to her apartment in Pune by posing as a courier delivery executive on Wednesday evening.
The nature of the crime, considering that it happened inside the house of the survivor, in the evening, in one of the posh societies in Pune, has shocked the city. The case occurred just days after a minor on her way to Pandharpur ahead of Ashadhi Wari was sexually assaulted by bike-borne men, and months after the shocking Swargate and Bopdev Ghat rape cases.
From Bopdev, Swargate to Kondhwa: 5 Rape Cases Which Shook Pune City
1. Swargate Bus Rape (25 February 2025)
Accused Dattatray Gade posing as a conductor, raped a 26-year-old woman, who works in the private medical field, inside a stationary bus at the busy Swargate ST stand in the early hours of February 26. He fled but was caught in Shirur after 3 days. Strong DNA and CCTV evidence led a court to reject his bail.
The woman stated that while waiting for a bus to Phaltan around 5:45 am, Gade approached her, called her 'didi,' and told her the bus had arrived at another platform. He then took her to an empty bus parked elsewhere. She hesitated at first because the lights inside were off, but Gade convinced her it was the right vehicle. He then followed her inside and raped her before fleeing.
He also threatened her and warned her not to reveal the crime.
The woman did not approach the police immediately. After the incident, she took another bus and narrated the incident to a friend. Following her friend's advice, she reported it at Swargate Police Station.
2. Bopdev Ghat Gang Rape (3 October 2024)
A 21-year-old woman was gang-raped by three men on the night of October 3 in the Bopdev Ghat area on the outskirts of Pune during an outing with a male friend. The assailants also beat up her friend. All suspects were arrested; however, the 3rd accused was arrested six months after the crime.
3. Rajgurunagar Sisters Rape and Murder (December 25, 2024)
A 54-year-old man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting and killing two minor sisters, aged 8 and 9. Their bodies were found in a water-filled drum at the suspect’s house, with their heads below and their feet up, indicating murder by forcible drowning. The man, Ajay Das, sexually targeted the older sister before strangling her and dumping the bodies.
4. Solapur Highway Sexual Assault (June 30, 2025)
A minor girl was kidnapped and sexually assaulted near Bhigwan on the Pune-Solapur highway while traveling to Pandharpur ahead of Ashadhi Wari. The group of seven, including two families, was stopped by two men on a bike around 4:15 am. They threatened the travelers and robbed a woman of her gold ornaments. During the attack, one of the men dragged away the girl and assaulted her.
5. Kondhwa Rape Case (July 2, 2025)
An unidentified man allegedly raped a 22-year-old IT professional after posing as a courier delivery executive in Pune. The man clicked a selfie on her phone, showing her back and his partial face, and left a message warning her not to tell anyone about the incident, threatening to share her pictures on social media and stating he "will come again."
The incident took place around 7.30 pm at a housing society in Kondhwa. The victim, who works in a private firm and studied IT, was alone as her brother was out of town. The man gained entry pretending to be delivering a bank-related document, asked for a pen to sign, and while she turned her back, entered and latched the door. She does not remember further details after regaining consciousness around 8.30 pm. She informed her relatives, and police are verifying if a substance was used to make her unconscious. The suspect’s face was captured on CCTV, and efforts are ongoing to identify him.
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