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Kerala man fined by Railways for carrying 'pet' African ball python in Rajdhani Express

Kannur: Muhammad Isham told a Malayalam news channel that he had no idea that the snakes were being brought on a train. He was expecting them to be delivered as a courier from the agency.

Mirror Now Digital

Updated Oct 1, 2022, 13:17 IST

A royal python a.k.a ball python.

Photo : iStock

Kannur: In a strange incident, the Indian Railways fined a Kerala man for transporting snakes in an air-conditioned coach of the Rajdhani Express on Thursday. According to reports, baby African ball pythons were being transported on the train for Kannur Pazhayangadi native M Muhammad Isham.

The four babies of the non-venomous python species, native to West and Central Africa, were brought to New Delhi by an agency for the man. It was then transported to his house in Kannur on a train, The Reporter Live said in an article. The snakes that are worth several lakhs of rupees were entrusted with a contract worker of the Rajdhani Express to be delivered to the Kerala man, the report added. They were sent by the agency packed in a plastic bag.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Isham told the Malayalam news channel that he had no idea that the snakes were being brought on a train. He was expecting them to be delivered as a courier from the agency. Muhammad Isham added that he paid a fine and has nothing to worry about as he has all documents and papers related to the sale. There is nothing illegal about buying ball pythons the way he did.

Muhammad Isham was fined Rs 500 by the Indian Railways under Section 145 (wilfully or without excuse interferes with any amenity provided by the railway administration so as to affect the comfortable travel of any passenger) of The Railways Act.

The report added that the man didn't break any laws punishable under the Wildlife Protection Act.

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