Alok Singh
On 6th August, 2025, the Supreme issued an interim stay on all trial court proceedings against YouTuber Elvish Yadav. The Bench comprising Justice M. M. Sundresh and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh Government and the complainant regarding Yadav’s appeal challenging the FIR, chargesheet, and the summons.
Elvish is accused of misusing snakes and snake venom in his YouTube videos and hosting rave parties where snake venom and other intoxicating substances were allegedly administered, even possibly to foreign attendees. The charges invoked include numerous provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Indian Penal Code, and the NDPS Act.
The case was filed against Elvish Yadav from an FIR registered at Sector-49 Police Station in Noida, alleging his involvement in supplying snakes and using snake venom at rave parties and later a chargesheet was filed under the relevant sections.
He challenged the proceedings, claiming that the informant did not have legal standing under the Wildlife Act, that he was not present at the relevant event, and that no contraband was found on him. He further alleged that police bias was influenced by his celebrity status. The State, however, maintained that there was enough material to proceed to trial. The Allahabad High Court refused to quash the case, holding that these issues would be examined during the trial phase.
The Counsel for Elvish argued that the FIR was improperly filed because the informant, who is no longer an authorised Animal Welfare Officer, was not qualified to lodge such a complaint under the Wildlife Act. They also argued that no snakes, venom, or narcotics were directly linked to him, and he wasn’t even present at the alleged events. It was further claimed that sections of the NDPS Act initially invoked were later dropped due to a lack of evidence.
The case has been listed with a related petition seeking protection, with further proceedings scheduled for 29th August, 2025.
Case Title: Elvish Yadav @ Siddharth v. State of U.P. and Anr.
Case no.: SLP(Crl) No. 11480/2025
Bench: Justice M. M. Sundresh and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
Click here to access the order.
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