ED Summons YouTuber Elvish Yadav for Questioning in Snake Venom Party Case

Yadav, along with others, faces allegations of using snake venom as a recreational drug during parties he organized, prompting the ED to initiate proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED’s action follows a money laundering case registered based on a First Information Report (FIR) and charge sheet filed by the Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) district police last month.

Sources within the ED indicated that the investigation focuses on the alleged proceeds of crime generated and the illicit use of funds for organizing recreational events.

Elvish Yadav, known for his presence on YouTube and as the winner of reality show Bigg Boss OTT 2, was previously booked under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Wildlife Protection Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by Noida police. The charges stem from an FIR lodged in November last year, initially triggered by a complaint from the animal rights NGO People for Animals (PFA).

The case gained attention when five snake charmers were arrested from a Noida banquet hall in possession of nine snakes, including cobras, and suspected snake venom.

Yadav, though named in the FIR, was reported absent during the incident. Subsequently, a comprehensive charge sheet was filed by the Noida Police in April, encompassing allegations of snake trafficking, drug use, and organizing rave parties.

As the investigation progresses, the ED plans to interrogate Yadav and others associated with the case to unravel the financial transactions and purported misuse of funds in connection with the alleged offenses.