Indian YouTuber Elvish Yadav arrested for supplying snake venom as party drug

Elvish Yadav, an Indian influencer who won the second season of Bigg Boss Over-The-Top (OTT), has been arrested for allegedly supplying snake venom as recreational drug to raves parties in his town.

Yadav, 26, has been detained for 14 days under the Wildlife Protection Act, The Sun reported citing an Indian media report.

He was arrested after a police raid at a party in Noida, Uttar Pradesh in November, where attendees were found using snake venom for self-intoxication.

Authorities recovered nine snakes, including cobras, along with 20ml of snake venom, according to Indian broadcaster NDTV.

Police launched an investigation and questioned five people on suspicion of snake smuggling, who all named Yadav as the alleged organiser of the parties and snake venom supply.

The popular YouTuber has since been taken into custody and appeared before the District and Sessions Court in Surajpur, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Animal welfare organisation People For Animals also alleged Yadav and others were shooting videos with snakes and snake venom, according to India Today.

Uttar Pradesh Environment Minister Arun Saxena emphasised that the law will be upheld, stating that no celebrity is above the law.

"Law will take its course, and no celebrity is bigger than the law," Saxena said.

According to police sources, Elvish has confessed to arranging for snakes and snake venom at the rave events he organised, despite initially denying any involvement.