The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday issued summons to YouTuber Siddharth Yadav, popularly known as Elvish Yadav, to appear for questioning on July 23 in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged use of snake venom as a recreational drug at parties hosted by him.
The ED registered the case in May after taking cognisance of a police FIR and charge sheet filed in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district, which accused Elvish Yadav and others of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In April, the Noida police filed a comprehensive chargesheet exceeding 1,200 pages. The charges outlined include snake trafficking, use of psychotropic substances, and organising rave parties, according to police statements.
According to PTI sources, Elvish Yadav has been asked to appear before the ED’s investigating officer on July 23 after initially seeking deferment due to foreign travel and professional commitments. This comes as Rahul Yadav, also known Rahul Fazilpuriya, a singer from Haryana allegedly linked to Elvish Yadav, was questioned by the ED this week in relation to a case involving the alleged generation of proceeds of crime and use of illicit funds for organizing rave or recreational parties.
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The 26-year-old controversial YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner, was arrested by the Noida police on March 17. He was booked under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Wildlife Protection Act, and Indian Penal Code, following an FIR lodged by an NGO, People for Animals (PFA), which accused him and five other snake charmers of hosting parties that involved the use of snake venom.