Elvish Yadav snake venom case: SC says its a ‘bad message’ to society if celebrities allowed to use ‘voiceless victims’

‘Bad message’ to society if celebrities allowed to use ‘voiceless victims’: SC in snake venom case involving Elvish Yadav

• Supreme Court to review Elvish Yadav snake case complaint
• Court warns misuse of wildlife by influencers sends bad message
• Next hearing on Elvish Yadav's case set for March 19

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The Supreme Court of India said on Wednesday that it will look into the complaint against YouTuber Elvish Yadav under the Wildlife (Protection) Act in connection with the snake venom matter, warning that letting well-known personalities exploit “voiceless victims” such as snakes could send a “very bad message” to society.

Elvish, a controversial social media influencer, was first booked in November 2023 and subsequently arrested on March 17, 2024, over allegations that snake venom was used at a rave party in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

A bench of Justices M. M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh was hearing Elvish’s plea in which he challenged the chargesheet and ongoing criminal proceedings against him in the case. During the hearing, the court questioned how protected animals had been handled and raised concern over the broader societal impact if prominent figures appeared to misuse wildlife.

"If popular persons are allowed to use "voiceless victims" like snakes, it could send a very bad message to the society… You take the snake and play around. Did you deal with the snake or not? "Can you go to the zoo and play with animals there? Will it not be an offence? You can't say that you'll do whatever you want. We are concerned with the complaint under the Wildlife (Protection) Act," the bench asked Elvish’s lawyer.

Senior advocate Mukta Gupta, representing Elvish Yadav, told the Supreme Court that the YouTuber had only attended the function as a guest for a music video shoot with singer Fazilpuria, and that there was no proof of a “rave party” or the use of any scheduled psychotropic substance at the event. She stressed that Elvish  was not present at the spot where the alleged offence took place, and cited medical reports showing that the nine snakes examined by authorities were not venomous.

On the other hand, the state’s counsel informed the court that police had recovered nine snakes — including five cobras — and suspected snake venom during their investigation into alleged rave parties.

The bench, led by Justices M. M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh, asked the state’s lawyer to clarify how snake venom is extracted and allegedly used at such rave gatherings.

The Supreme Court has now posted the matter for further hearing on March 19, as it considers whether the complaint against Elvish should proceed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

The court had earlier, on August 6 last year, stayed the trial-court proceedings in the case. The chargesheet filed by police claims that snake venom was consumed as a recreational substance at rave parties in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and that foreign nationals were also involved.

Elvish’s counsel has repeatedly argued that no snakes, venomous or psychotropic substances were recovered from him, and that no causal link could be established between him and the co-accused. She also pointed out that the complainant, who initiated the FIR, was no longer an animal welfare officer at the time yet filed the report claiming to be one.

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Calling Elvish a "well-known influencer" and someone who appears in multiple reality shows on television, the counsel had said his involvement in the FIR garnered "much media attention".

(With inputs from PTI)