The Railway Protection Force (RPF) Central Railway has arrested a 37-year-old man for releasing a snake inside a toilet on the Mumbai–Solapur Vande Bharat Express. The accused, identified as Jagan Arjun Bhale, a resident of Nashik district, was traced through CCTV footage and apprehended following a tip-off.
The incident occurred in coach C-16 when passengers spotted a snake inside the washroom near Karjat. Despite inspections at Karjat and Pune, the reptile — a rat snake measuring 2–2.5 ft — could not be found initially. It was eventually rescued at Solapur with the help of a snake catcher.
CCTV footage later revealed Bhale releasing the snake after boarding the train at Thane.
Bhale confessed to releasing the snake to create panic among passengers. A case was registered under sections 145(b), 147, and 153 of the Railways Act. A railway court in Kalyan remanded him to 14 days’ judicial custody.
Authorities have emphasized the importance of vigilance on trains and are investigating whether Bhale was involved in any similar incidents.
