New Delhi: On Thursday, the Supreme Court quashed the criminal case against YouTuber Elvish Yadav, who was accused of using snake venom during video shoots and participating in drug-fueled rave parties, ruling the FIR legally unsustainable. Simultaneously, the court clarified that its order does not constitute a full exoneration, while allowing competent authorities to launch independent proceedings under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Elvish Yadav was charged in 2023 and taken into custody in 2024 over claims of using snake venom at a rave party. The bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh limited its examination to two key issues—the relevance of provisions in the NDPS Act, 1985, and the legitimacy of actions under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The court ruled the case, as currently framed, legally unsustainable on both counts. ALSO READ | ED seizes properties worth over ₹58 lakh belonging to Elvish, Fazilpuria. Addressing the NDPS Act first, the bench observed that the substance allegedly recovered from a co-accused was not listed in the schedule of psychotropic substances under the statute. The court acknowledged that the items recovered from the co-accused do not fall under the scheduled psychotropic substances. It also considered the argument that no recovery was made from Yadav—represented by advocate Raman Yadav—with the prosecution’s case relying mainly on claims that he placed orders via an associate. Without any contraband substance recovered and no direct seizure from the accused, the court ruled that proceedings under the NDPS Act could not be upheld. ALSO READ | Pankit Thakker: I am perplexed to see Elvish Yadav’s social media influence. Regarding the Wildlife Protection Act, the bench identified a more fundamental legal flaw. It emphasized that Section 55 of the Act requires prosecution to be initiated solely upon a complaint from a duly authorized officer.
