New Delhi, April 29, 2025
Elvish Yadav news: Bigg Boss OTT 2 Winner and popular YouTuber Elvish Yadav has filed a petition at the Allahabad High Court demanding relief against criminal chargesheet and summons issued against him in the high-profile case of snake venom and rave party. The petitioner took the decision months after being made a prime accused in the case related to alleged violation of wildlife laws, consumption of narcotics, and prohibited handling of safeguarded snakes.
Elvish Yadav news
Why Elvish Yadav is in Legal Trouble
The row started in November 2023, when the Noida Police raided a banquet hall in Sector 51, Noida, after a complaint filed by People for Animals (PFA), an NGO led by BJP leader Maneka Gandhi. During the raid, police allegedly confiscated:
Nine snakes, including five cobras,
20 milliliters of suspected snake venom,
Evidence pointing to the organization of a suspected rave party with exploitation of wildlife.
The probe found that venom glands and teeth of the snakes were removed – a violation as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Snake poison, which has been suspected for use as an illegal party drug, gave an added twist to the case involving provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Charges Framed Against Elvish Yadav
After the preliminary investigations, Noida Police arrested Elvish Yadav in March 2024.
The primary allegations are:
Violation of Wildlife Protection Act,
Drug-related charges under the NDPS Act,
Negligent act under IPC Sections 284 and 289,
Criminal intimidation, in response to the allegations that Yadav intimidated complainants to back out of the case.
In April 2024, a 1,200-page chargesheet was lodged, accusing Yadav and seven others as accused. The chargesheet contains:
Testimonies of 24 witnesses,
Electronic evidence (video clips, call records),
Forensic reports verifying the substance seized was real snake venom.
Elvish Yadav's Response: High Court Intervention
Under threat of trial, Elvish Yadav has now gone to the Allahabad High Court. His petition seeks:
Quashing of the chargesheet,
Cancellation of summons by the trial court,
Protection from arrest in the ongoing proceedings.
Yadav’s lawyers assert that he has been wrongly accused and no direct proof links him with the so-called activities. The Allahabad High Court will take up his plea shortly.
Money Laundering Angle: Enforcement Directorate Intervenes
In a big breakthrough, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also filed a money laundering case against Yadav and other persons in May 2024 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED is probing:
Financial transactions associated with the suspected illegal rave parties,
Suspected proceeds of crime obtained from illegal activities,
Potential international connections to the supply of snake venom.
Threat Allegations by Animal Rights Activists
Saurabh and Gaurav Gupta, PFA members who made the initial complaint, claimed that Elvish Yadav threatened them with severe repercussions to compel a retraction of their statements.
In response to these claims, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Haryana Police to give security to the complainants whenever they present themselves before the court.
How This Case Impacts Influencers
The Elvish Yadav case has raised some very serious issues regarding:
The role of digital influencers,
The illegal trade in wildlife related to entertainment events,
The new threat of substitute drug abuse with animal products.
Social media influencers with huge fan bases are now coming under greater scrutiny for their activities both online and offline.
As Elvish Yadav waits for the next hearing in the Allahabad High Court, the snake venom rave party case remains in the spotlight across the country.
With several agencies such as Noida Police, Enforcement Directorate, and wildlife officials probing, the case has emerged as a cautionary tale for all influencers on the need to adhere to legal and ethical practices.
