The Uttar Pradesh government has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss YouTuber Elvish Yadav’s plea in the alleged snake venom rave party case, citing strong evidence of a criminal conspiracy involving wildlife violations and narcotics offences.
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UTTAR PRADESH: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday requested the Supreme Court of India to dismiss YouTuber Elvish Yadav’s plea seeking to quash the criminal case filed against him in the alleged snake venom rave party case, terming it a serious matter under wildlife and narcotics laws.
According to a detailed affidavit filed before the top court and accessed exclusively by India Today, the state government claimed that the investigation had exposed a criminal conspiracy involving the extraction, conversion, and consumption of snake venom as an intoxicant at illegal parties allegedly organised in Noida.
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The affidavit stated that the probe, conducted under the supervision of authorised forest and police officials, resulted in the seizure of nine protected snakes, including five cobras, a python, and two two-headed snakes, along with 20 mg of venom.
Investigators also prepared a 1,200-page chargesheet detailing alleged exotic snake smuggling, the use of venom at parties, and the involvement of foreign nationals.
“The case is supported by confessional statements of co-accused, forensic analysis of seized substances, intercepted communications, and electronic surveillance reports,”
the affidavit said.
The Uttar Pradesh government argued that evidence gathered during the probe clearly supports Elvish Yadav’s involvement.
It also referred to a Cyber Cell report, which confirmed that Yadav had contact with the co-accused through a virtual number, described by the state as a “deliberate concealment and direct involvement in the offences.”
Rejecting Yadav’s claims of political conspiracy or malicious intent, the government asserted that the proceedings were the result of a “fair and earnest inquiry backed by credible material.”
Yadav, who was arrested on March 17, 2024, faces charges under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He was released on bail after 14 days in custody.
The affidavit clarified that the invocation of the NDPS Act was valid, as the material collected indicated the use of snake venom as a psychotropic substance at illegal gatherings.
The state further argued that absence from the crime scene does not absolve a person of guilt if criminal conspiracy can be established under the law.
“The ongoing proceedings do not warrant judicial interference at this stage,”
the affidavit concluded.
Earlier in the Supreme Court
Earlier, the Supreme Court had granted interim relief to Elvish Yadav by staying the trial court proceedings related to the case. The court also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Yadav’s plea, which challenges the FIR, chargesheet, and summoning order issued by the lower court.
Yadav, represented by Advocates Shahrukh Ali and Raman Yadav, contended that the Wildlife Protection Act offences were taken cognisance of without a complaint from a competent officer, arguing that the police lacked the legal authority to investigate or file a chargesheet in such cases.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Elvish Yadav
