Pune - Police have apprehended Dattatray Gade, the suspect in the sexual assault of a 26-year-old woman that occurred inside a stationary Shivshahi bus at Pune's Swargate bus depot earlier this week.

Authorities captured Gade around 1:30 a.m. on Friday while he was hiding at a sugarcane farm in Gunat village, Shirur taluka. The arrest followed an extensive search operation involving 13 police teams with over 100 personnel and canine units. Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingle headed the operation that successfully located the suspect who had been evading capture since Tuesday.

Following his arrest, Gade was transferred to Swargate police station for further investigation and is scheduled to appear in court after 3 p.m. today. He is currently being held at Lashkar police station.

According to police sources, villagers from Gunat provided crucial assistance in the manhunt. Gade reportedly visited relatives in the village around midnight seeking water, and during this encounter, expressed remorse for his actions and indicated he intended to surrender. Police received information about his movements shortly thereafter, leading to his arrest.

The case has drawn significant attention from officials, with Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar directing the Pune Police Commissioner to personally oversee the investigation.

Pawar condemned the incident as "extremely shameful, painful, and infuriating," stating that "the crime committed by the accused is unforgivable." Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also took serious note of the incident and issued instructions to law enforcement.

The National Commission for Women has requested a detailed investigation report from the state Director General of Police, Rashmi Shukla.

Initial police investigations reveal that Gade, a resident of Gunat village in Shirur taluka, has a criminal history including multiple robbery charges. He reportedly targeted elderly women during his time as a transport driver, and has cases registered against him in several police stations including Shikrapur, Supa, Kedgaon, and Kotwali.