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.”