YouTuber Elvish Yadav Faces Money Laundering Probe in Snake Venom Party Case

In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering case against YouTuber Siddharth Yadav, better known as Elvish Yadav, and several others in connection with the suspected use of snake venom as a recreational drug at parties hosted by them. The Central agency has invoked charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), escalating the legal troubles for the social media influencer and those associated with him.

The ED's move comes after taking cognizance of a First Information Report (FIR) and charge sheet filed by the Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) district police in Uttar Pradesh last month. The police had arrested Yadav on March 17 for his alleged involvement in the suspected use of snake venom as a recreational drug at parties he organised.

According to official sources, the ED is now scrutinising the alleged generation of proceeds of crime and the use of illicit funds to organise rave or recreational parties. Yadav and others linked to the case will be questioned as part of the investigation into the suspected money laundering activities.

The 26-year-old YouTuber, who gained fame as the winner of the reality show Bigg Boss OTT 2, was booked under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Wildlife Protection Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by the Noida police. 

Yadav was among the six people named in an FIR lodged at Noida's Sector 49 Police Station on November 3 last year, based on a complaint filed by a representative of the animal rights NGO People for Animals (PFA). Five snake charmers, who were arrested from a banquet hall in Noida on the same day, were also named in the FIR. During the raid, nine snakes, including five cobras, were rescued, and 20 ml of suspected snake venom was seized.

In April, the Noida Police filed a comprehensive charge sheet in the case, spanning over 1,200 pages. The charges included snake trafficking, the use of psychotropic substances, and organising rave parties. The ED's involvement in the case indicates a heightened level of scrutiny into the financial aspects of the alleged operations.

The agency's investigation will focus on tracing the potential generation and subsequent laundering of illicit funds obtained through these activities. Elvish Yadav and others associated with the case are likely to face intense questioning from the ED officials regarding the sources of their income, financial transactions, and the alleged use of funds for hosting the suspected rave parties involving snake venom.

The case has garnered significant attention due to its unusual nature and the alleged involvement of a popular social media personality, raising concerns about the potential proliferation of such activities and the need for stringent enforcement measures.