13 February,2026 05:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
A CCTV footage had showed the man placing the snake inside the toilet. Pic/CR
A Nashik-based man who had in December last year left a snake in the Vande Bharat Express train was nabbed from Thane district in Maharashtra after almost 50 days of manhunt, officials said.
They said that the Central Railway's Railway Protection Force (RPF) has arrested the man accused of placing a snake inside a coach of the Vande Bharat Express train.
The accused, identified as Jagan Arjun Bhale (37), a resident of Nashik district in Maharashtra, was apprehended from Mumbra on February 12, 2026.
The incident took place on December 27, 2025, when a snake was discovered in the toilet of Coach C-16 of Train No. 22225 Vande Bharat Express.
Railway staff immediately closed the toilet and informed the Control Room.
The train continued its journey, and the snake was safely rescued at Solapur station.
CCTV footage later showed an unidentified person placing the snake inside the toilet.
Following the incident, a case was registered under Sections 145(B), 147 and 153 of the Railways Act, 1989, and an investigation was launched.
With the help of CCTV footage and a tip-off from an informer, the RPF traced and arrested the accused from Mumbra.
During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed to the offence.
The accused was produced before the Railway Court in Kalyan, which granted 14 days of Magisterial Custody Remand. A detailed investigation is now underway.
Central Railway officials praised the RPF team for their swift action and efforts in ensuring passenger safety.
Targeting a passenger on board Vidarbha Express train in Maharashtra, a thief allegedly fled away with gold worth Rs 26.88 lakh but was later held in in West Bengal, officials said on Thursday.
According to the officials, the Mumbai Railway Police have arrested the 'habitual thief' for allegedly stealing a passenger's bag on the train. The police have also recovered stolen property worth Rs 26,88,014, including 186.23 grams of gold jewellery and cash.
The incident took place on January 17, 2026 on Train No. 12104 Vidarbha Express. The complainant was travelling in Coach S3, Seat No. 32. While he was asleep, the train passed Nashik Road railway station at around 2:42 am. During this time, an unknown person stole his green sack bag.
The stolen bag contained gold jewellery and cash worth Rs 32,73,714.
Based on the complaint, CSMT Railway Police under Section 305(C) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
After the case was registered, the Crime Branch of Kalyan Unit 3 immediately began an investigation. Police officers checked CCTV footage from railway stations between Nashik and CSMT where the Vidarbha Express stopped.
The footage showed a suspect boarding the train at Dadar railway station and getting down at CSMT railway station. He was seen carrying a green sack bag matching the description given by the complainant.
Further investigation through police records and informers revealed that the suspect was a known habitual offender. He was identified as Jahir Jamal Sheikh, aged 28, originally from Malda district in West Bengal.
Police teams from Kalyan Unit 3 travelled to Malda, West Bengal, after receiving technical information and local inputs. After a search operation, the accused was located and arrested.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to committing the theft. Police recovered part of the stolen property from him.
The recovered property includes 4 gold bars weighing 90.690 grams worth Rs 13,00,135, 2 gold bangles weighing 36.200 grams worth Rs 4,92,296, 1 gold bangle weighing 28.500 grams worth Rs 3,95,656, 1 gold bracelet weighing 16.480 grams worth Rs 2,30,177, 1 gold chain with pendant weighing 14.360 grams worth Rs 2,00,250 and cash of Rs 56,500 (113 notes of Rs 500).
An OPPO mobile phone worth Rs 13,000, allegedly purchased using the stolen cash was also recovered, the officials said.
The total recovered property is valued at Rs 26,88,014, they said.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of senior railway police officials including the Commissioner of Railway Police, Mumbai, and other senior officers.
The investigation team was led by Senior Police Inspector Vijay Khedkar, with Assistant Police Inspector Deepak Patil as the Investigating Officer, along with other officers and staff from the Crime Branch, Kalyan Unit 3 and the Technical Branch.
