In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets as part of its ongoing investigation into a money laundering case involving YouTuber Siddharth Yadav, also known as Elvish Yadav, and several others. Official sources confirmed the move on Thursday, with a provisional order being issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Investigation Details
Elvish Yadav, who recently gained widespread popularity after winning Bigg Boss OTT 2, was previously questioned by the ED in relation to allegations involving the use of snake venom as a recreational drug at parties he hosted. Financial transactions related to these activities are also under scrutiny. The central agency launched its case in May, based on an FIR and charge sheet filed by the Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) district police in Uttar Pradesh. The ED's investigation under the PMLA aims to trace the alleged proceeds of crime linked to these activities.
Background of the Case
Yadav’s legal troubles began when Noida police arrested him on March 17 in connection with the illegal trade of snake venom. He was accused of using the venom at parties and faced multiple charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Wildlife Protection Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Yadav, however, has consistently denied the allegations, calling them baseless. Later, police dropped the NDPS charges, admitting that they were filed in error.
Yadav's legal challenges began with his arrest on March 17, 2024, amid accusations of using snake venom at parties. In April, Noida police submitted a comprehensive 1,200-page indictment detailing charges of snake smuggling, drug possession, and the operation of raucous gatherings.
As investigations intensified, the ED has focused on the alleged generation of proceeds from crime and the use of illicit funds to organize rave parties. The agency has also questioned Rahul Yadav, alias Rahul Fazilpuriya, a singer from Haryana with alleged connections to Elvish Yadav.
Yadav was named in an FIR filed on November 3, 2023, following a complaint from a representative of the animal rights NGO People for Animals (PFA). Five snake charmers linked to the case were arrested in November and later released on bail. While these charmers were caught with nine snakes, including five cobras, and 20 ml of suspected snake venom at a banquet hall in Noida, Yadav was not present at the scene.
The charges against Yadav stemmed from an FIR lodged at Noida's Sector 49 police station on November 3 last year, following a complaint from a representative of the NGO People for Animals (PFA). Yadav was among six individuals named in the case, which also involved the arrest of five snake charmers at a banquet hall in Noida. The charmers were found in possession of nine snakes, including five cobras, and 20 ml of suspected snake venom. Although Yadav was not present at the scene, his alleged involvement in using snake venom at recreational parties prompted further investigations.
