Over 70 Cobras, Vipers Recovered From Pune Flat, 2 Arrested

Cobras and Russell’s Vipers were recovered from the apartment.

Two men have been arrested for allegedly smuggling snake venom. (Photo: ANI/Altered by the The Quint)

Police have seized over 70 snakes, mostly deadly Russell's vipers and cobras, from a residential apartment in Pune.

The snakes were recovered from an apartment, where a man was living with his wife and children.

Ranjit Kharage, 37, and his alleged accomplice, Dhananjay Belkute, 30, were arrested for allegedly keeping the snakes in wooden boxes and gunny bags. The two planned to extract and sell the venom, police said.

The snakes have been handed over to the wildlife authorities.

Read more: Over 70 Snakes Seized in Pune, 2 Arrested for Venom Smuggling