Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal criticised CM Devendra Fadnavis, blaming him for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, following the alleged rape of a 26-year-old woman at Pune's Swargate bus depot, and accused him of prioritising the defence of corrupt officials over ensuring women's safety.

Speaking to ANI, Sapkal said, "For some time now, incidents of exploitation of women have been reported continuously in Maharashtra...The law and order situation in Maharashtra collapsed after Devendra Fadnavis became the Home Minister...We are with the victim and our demand that culprits should be given the harshest punishment."