Controversial YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT winner Elvish Yadav was arrested on Sunday by Uttar Pradesh police in connection with a probe into the suspected use of snake venom as a recreational drug at a party in Noida a few months ago.
A special court in Surajpur later sent him to 14-day judicial custody.
Police had filed an FIR against six persons, including Yadav, in November last year under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Indian Penal Code sections 120B (party to criminal conspiracy), 284 (negligent conduct related to poison that endangers human safety) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animals).
The other five accused, identified as snake charmers, were arrested in November and are now out on bail.
Yadav was arrested after police added charges under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the case.
"Elvish Yadav was called for questioning in the case. He was arrested after adequate evidence, including those linked to the NDPS Act, was found in the case. Further investigation is underway," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Vidya Sagar Mishra was quoted as saying by PTI.
The case pertains to the police raid at a party in Noida on November 3, during which police found snake venom used for intoxication by the guests. Five people were arrested from a banquet hall in Sector 51 on November 3, and nine snakes, including five cobras, were rescued from their possession, while 20 ml of suspected snake venom was also seized.
During the probe, the cases were transferred from Noida's Sector 49 police station to Sector 20 police station on the orders of Gautam Buddha Nagar Police Commissioner Lakshmi Singh.
Yadav has denied any involvement in the case. “If I have even one per cent involvement in this case, I will surrender myself, whether the punishment is 10 years or 100 years. Everyone knows that my level has not fallen so low that I will do this kind of work," he had said in a personalised YouTube video.
PFA chairperson and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi accused Yadav of involvement in illegally selling snake venom and sought his immediate arrest.
