NEW DELHI: The enforcement directorate has summoned YouTuber Siddharth Yadav, also known as Elvish Yadav, on July 23 for questioning in a money laundering case.
This case is related to the suspected use of snake venom as a recreational drug at parties hosted by Yadav. The case was registered in May under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following an FIR and a charge sheet filed by the police in Noida.
Yadav was asked to appear before the ED’s Lucknow office this week. However, he requested a deferment due to scheduled foreign travel and professional commitments.
Consequently, he has been asked to depose before the investigating officer on July 23.
The ED has already questioned Rahul Yadav, also known as Rahul Fazilpuriya, a singer from Haryana who is allegedly linked to Elvish Yadav, in connection with the case. Officials indicated that Rahul Yadav might be summoned again.
The investigation is focusing on the alleged generation of crime proceeds and the use of illicit funds for organizing rave or recreational parties. Elvish Yadav was arrested by Noida police on March 17 concerning the suspected use of snake venom at parties he allegedly hosted.
The 26-year-old YouTuber, also known for winning reality show Bigg Boss OTT 2, faces charges under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Wildlife Protection Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These charges stem from an FIR registered on November 3 last year at Noida’s Sector 49 police station.
The FIR was lodged by a representative of the NGO, People for Animals (PFA). Besides Yadav, five other accused—all snake charmers—were named in the FIR. They were arrested in November but later granted bail by a local court.
The snake charmers were detained from a banquet hall in Noida on November 3, and nine snakes, including five cobras, were rescued. Police also seized 20 ml of suspected snake venom.
Despite these arrests, police reported that Elvish Yadav was not present at the venue and continued to investigate his potential role in the case. In April, Noida police submitted a charge sheet exceeding 1,200 pages, detailing charges of snake trafficking, use of psychotropic substances, and organizing rave parties.