YouTuber Elvish Yadav summoned by ED in money laundering case
PTC News Desk: Official sources stated on Wednesday that the Enforcement Directorate has summoned YouTuber Siddharth Yadav, also known as Elvish Yadav, on July 23 for questioning in a money laundering case related to the potential use of snake venom as a recreational drug at parties he hosts. The central agency took cognizance of a FIR and charge sheet filed by police in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) district against Elvish Yadav and related individuals, and registered the case in May, filing charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
According to the sources, Elvish Yadav was first requested to appear before the ED this week at its Lucknow office. However, he requested that the summons be postponed because of his planned overseas travel and work obligations.
They added that he has now been called to give a deposition before the ED's investigative officer on July 23. This week, the ED questioned Rahul Yadav, also known as Rahul Fazilpuriya, a musician from Haryana who is purportedly connected to Elvish Yadav, about the aforementioned case, they added. He might get another call.
The ED is keeping a close eye on claims of producing proceeds of crime and using illegal money to plan raves or other recreational events.
In the course of their investigation into the possible use of snake venom as a recreational drug during parties he was purportedly the host of, the Noida police detained Elvish Yadav on March 17.
The controversial 26-year-old YouTuber, who also won the reality show Bigg Boss OTT 2, was arrested by the Noida police under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Wildlife Protection Act, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
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Six persons, including Elvish Yadav, were included in a First Information Report (FIR) that was filed at the Sector 49 police station in Noida on November 3, 2018, in response to a complaint made by a People for Animals (PFA) representative. A local court eventually granted bail to the five other suspects, who were all snake charmers who had been detained in November.
On November 3 of last year, the snake charmers were taken into custody at a banquet venue in Noida. Nine snakes, including five cobras, were recovered from their possession, and 20 milliliters of suspected snake venom was also taken.
Elvish Yadav, according to the police, was not in the banquet venue, and they were looking into his involvement in the incident. An approximately 1,200-page chargesheet was filed in April by the Noida police.
According to authorities, the accusations included organising rave parties, using psychoactive medications, and trafficking in snakes.
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- With inputs from agencies
