India, Sept. 29 -- A Mumbai railway court on Monday has handed interim custody of birds rescued after being transported in overcrowded cages on the Geetanjali Express to Kalote Animal Trust in Raigad. The order covers the surviving birds from a batch of 337 seized by the Government Railway Police (GRP) from a Kurla pet shop after around 2,100 birds were found crammed into seven cages on the train on September 10.

The 35th Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) passed the order on an application filed by PETA India seeking custody of the birds for the animal sanctuary.

Officials found around 2,100 budgerigars, finches and cockatiels packed into seven cages in the parcel compartment. Th...