NOIDA: An investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Sandeep Chaudhary, who was handling the snake venom case involving YouTuber Elvish Yadav as an accused, has been transferred, and the case has been handed over to another police station in Noida, according to officials.
SI Sandeep Chaudhary, who was in-charge of Noida's Sector 49 police station, has been reassigned to police lines due to his perceived inability to effectively manage crime in his jurisdiction, as stated by a police spokesperson on Sunday night.
A senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed on Monday that the case has been reassigned to Sector 20 police station for further investigation.
"The results of the forensic tests on the vial containing 20 ml of suspected snake venom are pending. Subsequent inquiries will depend on these results. Elvish Yadav has not yet been summoned for questioning in this case," the officer stated.
On November 3, Noida Police registered an FIR against six individuals, including Elvish Yadav, a social media influencer and winner of the reality OTT show "Bigg Boss," for allegedly using snake venom at rave parties. This case was filed under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Five suspects were apprehended on November 3, and nine snakes, including five cobras, were rescued from a banquet hall, with 20 ml of suspected snake venom confiscated from their possession, according to the police. However, the role of Elvish Yadav in the entire incident is still under investigation, as he was not present at the scene on November 3.
The 26-year-old YouTuber has denied all allegations against him and expressed his willingness to cooperate with the police investigation.
The case was initiated based on a complaint from a member of the animal rights group PFA (People For Animals). PFA Chairperson and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi accused Elvish Yadav of engaging in illegal snake venom trading and called for his immediate arrest.
On November 4, while traveling with his friends in a car in Rajasthan's Kota, Yadav was briefly detained for questioning by the local police but was subsequently released. The Kota police discovered that a case had been registered against him in Noida and contacted the Noida Police, who confirmed that Yadav was not a wanted individual.
(With agency inputs)
