YouTuber Elvish Yadav arrested for ‘supplying snake venom as party drug’ to pals at rave after nine reptiles found

8 months ago 3

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YOUTUBER Elvish Yadav has been arrested for allegedly supplying snake venom as a party drug at raves.

The Indian influencer, who won the second season of Bigg Boss OTT last year, has been detained for 14 days under the Wildlife Protection Act, local media report.

The popular influencer won the second series of Bigg Boss OTT last year – an Indian version of Big Brother[/caption]

His arrest stems from a police raid at a party in Noida in November, where attendees were found to be using snake venom to intoxicate themselves.

Nine snakes, including cobras, were recovered from the party along with 20ml of snake venom, according to Indian broadcaster NDTV.

Police launched an investigation and questioned five people on suspicion of snake smuggling, who all named Yadav as the alleged organiser of the parties and snake venom supply.

Elvish, along with the five other individuals, were named in the First Information Report (FIR) that was filed in the case.

The popular YouTuber has since been taken into custody and appeared before the District and Sessions Court in Surajpur, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Elvish was among the six individuals against whom a formal complaint was lodged at the Noida Sector 49 police station for allegedly distributing snake venom at rave parties.

Animal welfare organisation People For Animals also alleged Yadav and others were shooting videos with snakes and snake venom, according to India Today.

Following a raid at a banquet hall in Noida Sector 51 last November, the police uncovered a snake smuggling operation.

Five individuals were arrested from the banquet hall for distributing snake venom, including four snake charmers.

Forensic analysis of samples taken from the scene confirmed the presence of cobra and krait species venom.

In response to the situation, Gautam Buddha Nagar Police Commissioner Lakshmi Singh ordered the case to be transferred from the Sector 49 police station in Noida to the Sector 20 police station.

Uttar Pradesh Environment Minister Arun Saxena emphasised that the law will be upheld, stating that no celebrity is above the law.

“Law will take its course, and no celebrity is bigger than the law,” Saxena said.

According to police sources cited in an NDTV report, Elvish has confessed to arranging for snakes and snake venom at the rave events he organized.

Despite initially denying any involvement in the snake venom case, Elvish reportedly admitted during questioning that he was acquainted with the other suspects who had been apprehended for supplying snake venom the previous year.

Snake venom as a drug

Being bitten by a venomous snake is life-threatening in itself but using their venom as a drug can be just as dangerous.

Elvish Yadav’s case has brought to light the alleged use of snake venom as a drug, intended to cause intoxication among people at parties and raves.

While it does not produce the same effects as alcohol, the neurotoxins in the venom can induce symptoms that effect the nervous system and other psychological processes.

This can often lead to muscle weakness, paralysis and a changed mental state.

Snake venom is often extracted from the reptile before it is consumed, although extreme cases see the recipient deliberately bitten by the snake on the tongue or the lips.

The snake is injected with chemicals to make the venom more effective prior to the bite.

According to a 2021 study published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, the psychotropic properties of cobra venom partially resemble the action of morphine.

Cobra’s are the most commonly used snakes for their venom.