Pune bus rape: Plea in court to restrain public, social media

A lawyer representing the woman who was allegedly raped in a parked bus at Swargate depot in Pune city filed an application before a court on March 3, seeking a restraining order against public and social media statements that could lead to her character assassination.

In a related development, the investigation into the shocking incident has been transferred to the city crime branch from the Swargate police, while the victim's statement has been recorded in court, said a senior officer.

A 26-year-old woman, who works in the health sector, was allegedly raped by a history-sheeter, Dattatray Gade (37), inside a stationary state transport bus at Swargate terminus in the early hours of February 25, according to the police.

Gade, who faces half a dozen criminal cases, was tracked down in an agriculture field near his native Gunat village under Shirur tehsil of Pune district with the help of drones and sniffer dogs at around midnight on March 27 and later placed under arrest. He is in police custody till March 12.

Asim Sarode, a lawyer representing the woman, filed a vakalatnama (a document through which a client appoints an advocate to represent them in a case) on behalf of the victim in a city court.

Sarode also filed an application before the court seeking a restraining order against public and social media statements that could lead to her character assassination.

'...the said statements are causing a serious blow to the mind of the victim. Hence, it is important in the interest of the victim that such order may kindly be passed in her favour and in her interest,' said the application.

According to the officer, the Pune police's crime branch will investigate the case.

The police officer added that a statement of the victim was recorded before the court and that the DNA samples of the accused have been sent to the forensic department as part of the probe.

According to the police, the victim was waiting for a bus to Satara, her home town, at the Swargate bus stand early on February 25 when the accused, pretending to be a bus conductor, offered to take her to the bus.

As per the complaint, the victim went with him and boarded a bus, only to find that it was empty and that no lights were on. The accused followed her, closed both the doors and allegedly raped her.

The victim, in her complaint, stated that she tried to shout but since the doors and windows were closed, her screams could not be heard outside.

Gade later escaped. The woman alighted from the bus and called her friend; the police were subsequently informed.