The Noida Police have taken into custody social media influencer and Youtuber Elvish Yadav in relation to an investigation into the illicit use of snake venom during a local gathering. The arrest occurred on Sunday, adding a celebrity dimension to the high-profile wildlife substance abuse case that has been unfolding since last year.
Elvish Yadav found himself among a group of six individuals implicated when an FIR, or First Information Report, was initiated at the Sector 49 police station on November 3. While the other five suspects have since been arrested and released on bail, Yadav had avoided arrest until recently.
Authorities have informed that both the potentially perilous employment of venom and a collaborative criminal plot have been the focal points of the legal charges arrayed against Yadav and his alleged accomplices. These charges find their roots in the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 as well as the Criminal Conspiracy section under the Indian Penal Code’s section 120B.
What demanded the law enforcement’s attention in the Yadav case was an incident reported at a banquet hall in Sector 51, where upon a raid, the police detained five individuals and rescued nine snakes, including five cobras. In addition to this, the authorities confiscated 20 ml of what they suspect to be snake venom.
The case had seen a jurisdictional shift when the investigation responsibilities were transferred from Sector 49 to the Sector 20 police station. “The accused has been arrested by a team of Sector 20 police station which was investigating the case,” relayed Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida), Manish Mishra, to the press.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Elvish Yadav, who has gained substantial popularity as a winner of the reality show Bigg Boss OTT, has stringently denied any involvement. He has faced police inquiry in the past regarding the same matter. This development followed a considerable shift within the local law enforcement framework, as the sub-inspector in charge of the FIR’s originating police station was reassigned.
The investigation unfolded further when Yadav was apprehended by the police in Kota, Rajasthan, for questioning on November 4. He was traveling with friends at the time and, following the brief interrogation, was released.
The case has seen active interest from prominent figures, including PFA chairperson and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi, who has publicly accused Yadav of the illegal sale of snake venom, pressing for his immediate detention. On its part, the People For Animals organization catalyzed the legal action with a complaint that led to the original FIR.
Addressing the allegations and his arrest via social media, Yadav expressed to his followers in a video on Instagram that any claims of his participation in drug-related activities were entirely without merit. He further offered his complete cooperation to the UP Police and remarked that should any culpability on his part be proven, he would accept full responsibility.
Yadav stressed the importance of unprejudiced media coverage and urged restraint in the absence of concrete evidence. Pleading innocence, the YouTuber stated, “If it’s proved then I am ready to take the blame,” thus committing to face the consequences should his involvement be legally established.
This case brings to light the broader issue of wildlife exploitation and the illegal market for substances derived from endangered species. It underscores the necessity for stringent enforcement of wildlife protection laws and the responsibility individuals hold regarding the preservation of biodiversity. As the investigation continues, the specifics of Yadav’s purported role in this controversial case shall be keenly awaited by public and legal observers alike.
