Pune bus rape: 4 MSRTC officials, including senior depot manager, suspended for negligence

Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik warned of similar action if there was any dereliction of duty with regards to passenger safety at MSRTC facilities.

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced the suspension of four officials of state-run road transport corporation MSRTC, including a senior manager, for showing negligence in an incident in which a woman was raped at Swargate bus depot premises in Pune city.

A 26-year-old woman was raped inside a parked MSRTC bus at Pune's Swargate bus depot on February 25. (Representational Image)

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik made the announcement in the assembly which is having its budget session in Mumbai.

In a statement, Sarnaik said after the rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a parked Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at the depot on February 25, a probe had been ordered to ascertain whether there was any negligence on behalf of officials of the corporation.

After receiving the probe report on Tuesday, senior depot manager Jayesh Patil, junior depot manager Pallavi Patil, assistant transport inspector Sunil Yele and assistant transport superintendent Mohini Dhage were suspended for negligence, he told the house.

The minister warned of similar action if there was any dereliction of duty with regards to passenger safety at MSRTC facilities.

He said 22 security guards who were on duty when the incident occurred were immediately replaced. A history-sheeter, Dattatray Gade (37), has been arrested for raping the woman, who works in the health sector.

The Mahayuti government came under severe criticism over the incident which sparked outrage.