A 37-year-old man has been arrested for planting a live snake inside the toilet of a coach of a Mumbai-Solapur train on December 27, 2025. The man has confessed to the crime and said he had done it to create a nuisance. Central Railway’s RPF team, nearly seven weeks later, apprehended the man on Thursday.
The 2.5-foot-long Indian rat snake had created panic among commuters on the Solapur Vande Bharat Express. After it was spotted, officials aboard the train immediately alerted the Control Room. Officials tried to locate the snake at Karjat station but couldn’t. Another search was carried out when the train reached Pune, but the snake remained elusive. Subsequently, the toilet was locked, and a thorough search was conducted after the train reached Solapur, where the snake was found.
The snake, after being rescued at Solapur station
While the snake was rescued, the mystery of who put it there remained unsolved. CCTV footage revealed an unidentified man placing the snake inside the toilet at Thane station. “He just entered the train with a sack, threw in the snake, and got down,” an official said. Acting on video evidence and a tip-off from an informer, RPF officials tracked down the accused, identified as Jagan Arjun Bhale. He was apprehended from Mumbra on Thursday.
During interrogation, Bhale allegedly confessed that he done it to cause nuisance. He was produced before the Railway Court at Kalyan, which granted 14 days’ judicial custody. A detailed investigation is now underway. A case has been registered under Sections 145(B), 147, and 153 of the Railways Act, 1989.
Rat snakes, largely non-venomous
Rat snakes are mostly nonvenomous, medium-to-large constrictors found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Known as excellent climbers and beneficial pest controllers, they primarily feed on rodents, birds, and eggs. They are generally docile but can defend themselves by shaking their tails, releasing a foul odour, or biting.
Species: There are over 50 species, including the American black rat snake (up to 8 ft) and the popular pet, the corn snake.
Found in: They thrive in woodlands and agricultural sites, often found in trees or rafters.
What they eat: They eat rats, mice, birds, eggs, and other snakes.
When threatened: When threatened, they may mimic a rattlesnake by vibrating their tail. While they can bite if cornered, they are non-venomous and harmless to humans.
Train of exemplary service
The Solapur-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express (train nos. 22226/22225) has a remarkable performance, having carried a combined total of 23,43,598 passengers with an impressive occupancy of 102.27 per cent till January 2026. The train completed three years of dedicated service on February 10, having been flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from CSMT on February 9, 2023.
Incident details
>> Snake left in toilet of coach C-16 of Vande Bharat Express
>> Snake discovered during journey
>> Toilet sealed as snake couldn’t be located
>> Snake safely rescued at Solapur
Solving the mystery
>> CCTV footage captured man placing snake
>> RPF acted on video footage and informer tip
>> Man tracked down weeks later
Details of troublemaker
Name: Jagan Arjun Bhale
Age: 37
Apprehended: Feb 12, 2026
Location: Mumbra
Allegedly confessed during interrogation
Action taken
>> Booked under Sections 145(B), 147 and 153 of Railways Act, 1989
>> Produced before court and sent to 14 days judicial custody
>> Investigation in progress
