Elvish Yadav released after police detain him for questioning in Kota

An official source said even in illegal acts like these, thugs often dupe party organisers and participants by providing them with non-psychotropic substances in the name of snake venom

Rajasthan Police had detained Big Boss OTT winner Elvish Yadav in Kota on November 4. He was travelling along with his friends. However, Yadav was released after a while, when the DSP said that he cannot be indicted yet in the rave party snake venom supply case as investigation is still underway.

Maneka Gandhi, a BJP MP, has demanded Elvish Yadav's immediate arrest after accusing the "Bigg Boss" OTT winner of engaging in the illicit sale of snake venom. Nine snakes, including cobras, were also rescued from the possession of those arrested, who had landed at a banquet hall in Sector 51 on Thursday for a party, which was a trap laid by animal rights group People for Animals (PFA), officials said.

Moneycontrol could not verify this development independently.

Using social media, 26-year-old Elvish Yadav defended himself against the accusations, calling them "baseless, fake, and not even 1 percent true."

"I'm prepared to assist the UP Police in every way," Yadav stated, adding that "I also request the UP Police, administration and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that if my involvement is found, I will take full responsibility."

Twenty millilitres of snake venom sealed in a plastic container and taken from the accused by the police has been submitted for analysis to see whether it is psychotropic enough to cause the body to react similarly to party drugs.

Following a complaint by Gaurav Gupta of PFA, which is run by BJP parliamentarian Maneka Gandhi, an FIR was filed against six people, including Yadav, for partying at a banquet hall in Sector 51 where snake venom was made available, under charges of criminal conspiracy and the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

Gupta claimed that Yadav, who is also a YouTuber and social media influencer, illegally organised rave parties and shot videos with live snakes and snake venom in Noida and other parts of the NCR with his associates.

A police spokesperson said, "Five people were arrested from the banquet hall and nine snakes were rescued from their possession".

Those held have been identified as Rahul (32), Teetunath (45), Jaikaran (50), Narayan (50) and Ravinath (45), all residents of Moharband village in southeast Delhi's Badarpur, police said.

Divisional Forest Officer Pramod Kumar Srivastava said five cobras, two sand boas, one python and one rat snake — all falling in the category of endangered species — were rescued during the action.

"The charges framed in the case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act are stringent, which are non-bailable and can attract a jail term of seven years. The snake venom seized from the accused has been sent for a lab test to ascertain its quality," Srivastava told PTI, explaining the severity of the crime.

An official source said even in illegal acts like these, thugs often dupe party organisers and participants by providing them with non-psychotropic substances in the name of snake venom.

The use of snake venom as a recreational drug is not a common practice in India and is considered extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening. The use and possession of drugs, including substances derived from snake venom or any other controlled substances, are governed by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985.