Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant demands "death penalty" for Pune rape accused

The accused was detained by a team of the Pune Crime Branch from Gunat village in Shirur Tehsil of Pune district and was formally arrested on Friday.

Speaking to media on Friday, Uday Samant said, "... The accused arrested by Pune Police should receive the strictest punishment. He should get a verdict of hanging to death... Giving political mileage to every incident to defame Mahayuti is not appropriate..."

Meanwhile, BJP MP Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad also condemned the recent rape incident in Pune and expressed confidence that strict action would be taken under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

He also mentioned that 13 teams were formed to catch the accused with the help of Maharashtra's administration and the Home Ministry.

Speaking to ANI, BJP MP Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad said, "This is a very condemnable incident...13 different teams were formed with the help of the Maharashtra administration and Home Ministry to catch the accused."

Further, he added, "The accused has been arrested...I am sure that stringent action will be taken against the culprit. Under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, efforts are being made to give the harshest punishment to every culprit..."

The accused Dattatray Ramdas Gade was absconding since the incident happened on Tuesday, when the rape survivor, a working woman, was waiting for a bus to return home to Phaltan, which is located around 100 km away.

The accused allegedly approached her, falsely claiming that the bus to her destination was parked elsewhere. He led her to a MSRTC Shivsahi bus parked in the depot, where he allegedly raped her. (ANI)