YouTuber Elvish Yadav summoned by ED in snake venom money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned YouTuber Elvish Yadav for questioning on July 23 regarding a money laundering case connected to the alleged use of snake venom as a recreational drug at parties he hosted. The case was registered by the central agency in May under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on an FIR and charge sheet filed by the Noida police in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district. Yadav was initially asked to appear this week but sought deferment due to foreign travel and professional commitments.

Yadav's arrest on March 17 by the Noida police is part of an ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in the use of snake venom at parties. The controversial 26-year-old YouTuber, known for winning Bigg Boss OTT 2, was charged under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Wildlife Protection Act, and Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Noida police's charge sheet included accusations of snake trafficking, use of psychotropic substances, and organizing rave parties. "Rahul Yadav alias Rahul Fazilpuriya, a singer from Haryana allegedly linked to Elvish Yadav, was questioned by the ED this week," said official sources.