MUMBAI: Indian YouTuber Elvish Yadav, renowned for his online presence with 15 million subscribers, has found himself embroiled in controversy after being apprehended for purportedly supplying snake venom for recreational use at raves.
As per the reports from NDTV, the arrest, carried out under the Wildlife Act, unfolded following a raid on a party in November where suspicions arose regarding the utilisation of snake venom as a recreational substance.
The reports said that police investigations ensued, leading to the interrogation of five individuals suspected of involvement in snake smuggling. These individuals allegedly identified Yadav as the mastermind behind the parties and the source of the snake venom supply.
Despite the allegations, Yadav, also a winner of the Indian reality show Bigg Boss OTT, vehemently denied any wrongdoing, as reported by NDTV, expressing his willingness to cooperate fully with law enforcement.
During the raid, authorities reportedly seized nine snakes, including cobras, alongside 20ml of snake venom from the premises, as disclosed by the broadcaster. Subsequently, Elvish Yadav has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody, as reported by the Times of India, following four months since initial questioning.
The case surfaced following a complaint from the animal welfare organisation People For Animals, alleging Yadav’s involvement in filming videos featuring snakes and snake venom, according to India Today.
Highlighting the broader issue, a 2022 research paper published in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine underscored concerns regarding the misuse of snake venom as a recreational drug. The study pointed out instances of snake venom being utilised at rave parties, citing 13 cases in India alone.
