Youtuber Elvish Yadav was arrested by Noida Police on Sunday as part of an ongoing investigation regarding the alleged use of snake venom as a recreational substance at a local party, according to officials.
An FIR, filed on November 3 last year at Sector 49 police station, named Yadav and five others. Although the five co-accused were arrested earlier and are currently out on bail, Yadav’s arrest came later. The charges are related to violations of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and criminal conspiracy under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code.
The case was later transferred from Sector 49 to Sector 20 police station for further investigation. Additional DCP (Noida) Manish Mishra confirmed the arrest, stating that Yadav was taken into custody by a team from the Sector 20 police station.
Yadav, who gained fame as a winner of the reality show Bigg Boss OTT, has denied any involvement in the case. A sub-inspector, who was overseeing the Sector 49 police station where the FIR was filed, has been reassigned.
Case details
The complaint leading to the FIR was filed by an official from the animal rights organization People For Animals (PFA). On November 3, police arrested five individuals from a banquet hall in Sector 51 and rescued nine snakes, including five cobras, along with seizing 20 ml of suspected snake venom.
Despite not being present at the party, police are investigating Yadav’s potential involvement in the case regarding the use of snake venom as a recreational drug.
PFA chairperson and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi has accused Yadav of illegal sale of snake venom and has called for his immediate arrest.
On November 4, Yadav was briefly questioned by police in Rajasthan’s Kota while travelling in a car with friends, but he was soon released.