A Virar resident has been arrested for allegedly beating a snake to death in a housing society premises on Thursday. The accused, Anant Hatthiwala, 35, was produced before the Vasai court on Friday and has been remanded in forest custody till Monday. 

The incident took place on Tuesday (November 23) around 10.30 pm at Pinnacle Building in Bolinj, Virar West. A witness took photos of the incident and posted them on social media, which went viral. As per the photographs, the snake is a non-venomous Checkered Keelback, also known as Asiatic water snake, which is protected under schedule II of part II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.