Exotic ball python rescued from Andheri flat; wildlife crime case registered

Building in Andheri East, where ball python was rescued from rescued ball python. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Following a tip-off, forest department officials and police raided a flat in Andheri East and rescued an exotic ball python kept in a glass enclosure on the balcony. On August 3, 2026, the forest department registered a wildlife crime case (WL-04/2026) against the accused, Shubham Santosh Rahate, and launched an investigation.

Official Speak

Santosh Dagale, Range Forest Officer, Thane Forest Department (Territorial)
"A team from the territorial division, along with Andheri police, raided a flat in Andheri. We found that Shubham Rahate had kept an exotic ball python in captivity. An investigation is underway to determine how Rahate obtained the snake. Shubham told us he has had ball python for eight years but has not been able to produce documents required to keep any exotic species as a pet."

Neighbour Speak

"We had no idea a python was being kept inside the flat. Around 5.30 pm, we saw police and forest department officials arrive and go to the eighth-floor flat. That's when we realised what had happened. The officials took the snake away."

Did you know?

The ball python is one of 10 species in the genus Python and belongs to the Pythonidae family of constricting snakes found across tropical and subtropical regions of the Eastern Hemisphere. Native to the grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands of West and Central Africa, it thrives in warm habitats.