Jadhav managed to catch the 5-foot-long Spectacled Cobra around midnight and took it to the Aarey forest where he released it around 4 am. According to the police, Jadhav receives calls all the time from people who spot snakes in their areas. Jadhav has also been chosen as an animal welfare officer by the government.

Speaking to mid-day, Jadhav said the cobra last night was among the most dangerous he has caught till date. If this cobra had bitten someone, the person would have died in a couple of hours, Jadhav said.

Jadhav, who joined the Mumbai police in 2007, has so far caught around 1,000 snakes. He said he was bitten by a snake as a 10-year-old, and has been fascinated by the critters every since.