Elvish Yadav, a YouTuber and winner of Bigg Boss OTT 2, has been granted significant relief in the snake venom case filed against him. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the FIR and all related proceedings initiated under the Wildlife (Protection) Act in connection with the 2023 case registered by Uttar Pradesh Police.
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh ruled that the case was not legally maintainable because the complaint under the Wildlife Act had not been filed by an authorised individual. The court also noted that the charges under the Indian Penal Code were based on an earlier FIR in Gurugram, which has already been closed.
Regarding the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the bench observed that they were not applicable, as the substance recovered (anti-venom) did not fall under the Act’s scheduled list. Citing previous judgments, the court concluded that the case could not stand in law and therefore annulled the FIR along with subsequent actions, including the chargesheet and the trial court’s cognisance order.
The case had been filed on November 22, 2023, and Yadav was arrested on March 17, 2024, over allegations of using snake venom at a rave party in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. He had earlier challenged an order of the Allahabad High Court, which had refused to quash the chargesheet and termed the allegations serious.
On August 6 last year, the apex court had already stayed the trial court proceedings. The chargesheet claimed that snake venom was being used as a recreational substance at rave parties, including by foreign nationals.
Yadav’s legal team argued that no snakes, narcotics, or psychotropic substances were recovered from him and that no direct link was established between him and the co-accused. They also pointed out that the complainant, no longer an animal welfare officer, had filed the FIR while falsely presenting himself as one.
Describing Yadav as a prominent influencer featured in multiple reality shows, his counsel stated that the case had attracted considerable media attention.
ALSO READ: Struggling With Summer Skincare? Expert Busts 5 Common Myths You Need to Stop Believing
Olivia Sarkar is a Senior Content Producer on the Entertainment and Lifestyle desk with 6 years of experience. In 6 years, she worked with ANI, IANS, Zee News. Known for covering trends and engaging storytelling, she covers a wide spectrum of topics including entertainment news, fashion, fitness, health, food, travel, astrology. From major film announcements to industry controversies. Throughout her career, she has interviewed several notable personalities such as Femina Miss India World 2022 Sini Shetty, Miss World 2024 USA contestant Victoria DiSorbo, Miss France 2020 Clémence Botino.Her interview portfolio also includes celebrities like Milind Soman, Tiger Shroff, and Vikrant Massey, along with acclaimed singers Shubha Mudgal and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Jaspinder Narula. Beyond work, Olivia enjoys exploring new food joints, being wanderlust, and writing poetry. You can reach her out on X: @OliviaSarkar11
