Snake Venom Smuggling Case: Accused Elvish Yadav Threatens to Kill Witness; Court Directs FIR

25 January 2025, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Snake Venom Smuggling Case: The key development is a Ghaziabad court order, instructing Nandgram police to register an FIR against popular YouTuber Elvish Yadav. The case involves allegations of Yadav and his associates having threatened the main witness and complainant in the ongoing snake venom smuggling case. The court has given the judgment following a complainant, Saurabh Gupta, approaching the judiciary with an accusation of the police inaction despite multiple complaints.

Background of the Case

Last year, his name appeared when a rattlesnake venom smuggling racket was busted in Noida. The Noida Police have nabbed Yadav, alleging he is an integral part of illegal snake venom supplying racket to serve the purposes of narcotics, back in March 2024. While a search was conducted by the police at Noida’s Sector 49, the police found snake venom to the tune of 20 mL, besides nine poisonous snakes comprising cobras, pythons, and red snakes.

Five people were detained in the operation, and Yadav was reportedly connected to the racket. Investigations showed the snakes and their venom were employed in parties convened by Elvish Yadav. He has now been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. For now, Elvish Yadav will stay in judicial custody for 14 days. According to the 1,200-page charge sheet presented by police, Elvish Yadav had relations with handlers engaged for smuggling operations. The ED will also probe into the money aspect of the issue.

New Allegations

Resident of Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad, Saurabh Gupta, claims that Yadav and his associates have been threatening him and his brother Gaurav Gupta, who are the principal complainants in the case.
Court plea by Gupta says their houses and cars have been under surveillance while threats to their lives have also been issued. He also claimed that Yadav’s followers, known as “Elvish Army” on social media, have been spreading baseless stories and creating defamatory videos against them. Gupta said he had to close his Facebook account due to the harassment he was getting online. On 10 May 2024, CCTV footage caught suspicious movements of a black Jaguar and a black Fortuner reportedly used by Yadav’s men to observe Gupta’s residential society.

Court Orders FIR

Gupta’s pleas to the Ghaziabad Commissioner of Police and the Nandgram Police Station fell on deaf ears, leading him to take the matter to court. In response to his plea, Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) Pratibha directed the police to file a case under relevant sections and submit a report within ten days. This is a new addition to Yadav’s legal woes as he faces trial in the NDPS case.

Use of Snake Venom for Narcotics

The smuggling racket revealed a disturbing trend of snake venom being used for narcotic purposes. Law enforcement officials claim that venom from cobras and other snakes is either ingested directly or processed into a powder called “snakebite powder.” This powder, when mixed with drinks, creates euphoria and hallucinations. The other method is by allowing snakes to bite certain parts of the body, which reportedly produces a drug-like high that lasts for several hours.

With this order, Nandgram Police are duty bound to probe against Elvish Yadav and his associates. Meanwhile, Elvish Yadav continues under the scanner where ED has been pursuing its probe regarding the financial transaction that had flowed through the rings of smuggling. It has further adjourned for 6 February 2025 the next hearing in the case under NDPS.

It hasn’t only thrown the spotlight on the illegal wildlife trade but has also raised several questions about misuse of social media platforms to intimidate witnesses. In the meanwhile, as investigations proceed, legal woes for the YouTuber are by no means done.