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Home > Mumbai > Mumbai News > Article > Mumbai Illegal handling of protected python leads to arrest of Byculla man

Mumbai: Illegal handling of protected python leads to arrest of Byculla man

Updated on: 11 October,2023 10:39 PM IST  |  Mumbai
Ranjeet Jadhav | ranjeet.jadhav@mid-day.com

A Byculla man has been arrested by the Thane Forest department for illegal handling of the albino python, a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (Amended 2022)

Mumbai: Illegal handling of protected python leads to arrest of Byculla man

The two men were trying to push the snake, seen on the awning and then hanging from the metal grill, inside but it eventually fell to the ground

Following an incident where a large python snake was rescued from the window of a ground-plus-one structure, it has been revealed that the video originated from Byculla. After the video went viral, the Thane Forest Department has taken action against one individual.


On September 27, a video circulated on social media featuring a python hanging from the grill of a building's window. The video depicted one person trying to handle the python from inside the grill and another person handling it from outside the grill. During the forest department's investigation, it was determined that the python is a wildlife species protected under Schedule Part C of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (Amended 2022).


The forest department has booked the Byculla man, Yogesh Panhale, under Sections 9, 39, 44, 48, 48(A) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Amended 2022). A case had already been registered on September 27. Panhale, who was called in for interrogation, and arrested on Wednesday. He was produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate 46th Court in Mazgaon, which subsequently remanded him to judicial custody.


This action was taken under the guidance of Deputy Conservator of Forest Thane, Santosh Saste, Assistant Conservator of Forests Sonal Valvi, and Range Forest Officer Rakesh Bhoir. In this effort, Forester Harshal Sathe, Forester Dadar, and Forest staff Baban Chavan were also involved.

In a report published in mid-day.com on September 27, wildlife conservationists raised concerns about snakes being kept as pets, spurred by the video showing individuals attempting to rescue what appeared to be a large pet albino python from a first-floor window. The building seen in the viral video was initially believed to be located in Thane or Mumbai.

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