The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken action against Bigg Boss OTT winner and renowned YouTuber, Elvish Yadav, by filing a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This action follows an FIR and charge sheet filed by the Noida police against Elvish Yadav and others allegedly involved in a case concerning the use of snake venom at parties.
The ED will investigate the financial transactions associated with the supply of snake venom at various high-profile locations, including hotels, clubs, resorts, and farmhouses in the Delhi-NCR region. Elvish Yadav is expected to be questioned by the ED in connection with this case.
The controversy dates back to November last year when the PFA organization filed an FIR against Elvish Yadav and five others for allegedly supplying snake venom suspected to be used as a recreational drug at a rave party in Noida. Elvish Yadav was subsequently arrested on March 17 by the police, along with five other individuals, and charged under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and Section 120A (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. He was later granted bail by the Gautam Buddha Nagar District Court.
Further investigations led to the arrest of two more suspects, identified as Ishwar and Vinay, both residents of Haryana and known associates of Elvish Yadav. On April 6, the Noida police filed a 1200-page chargesheet against Elvish Yadav and seven others, detailing allegations ranging from snake smuggling to organizing rave parties. The chargesheet highlighted Elvish’s alleged involvement with snake charmers and the recovery of a poisonous snake and 20 millilitres of venom from the Krait species at the scene.
