Animal Rights Activists Seek Police Protection After Alleged Threats from YouTuber Elvish Yadav

Two animal rights activists, Saurabh and Gaurav Gupta, have approached the Punjab & Haryana High Court seeking police protection following alleged life threats from YouTuber Elvish Yadav. The Guptas, residents of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and members of Union minister Maneka Gandhi’s People for Animals (PFA) organization, claimed to have received threatening calls and faced pressure to withdraw their complaint against Yadav.

The complaint against Yadav pertains to a snake venom case from November last year, where he was accused of using snake venom as a drug in rave parties. The Guptas recorded Yadav’s video and filed an FIR against him, leading to his arrest on March 17 under various sections including the Wildlife Protection Act and the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPC) Act.

The rave party in question, held at Noida’s sector 51, saw the recovery of nine snakes – including cobras, pythons, sand snakes, and a rat snake – protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act. Additionally, a small tube of suspected snake venom was seized from six accused, including Yadav.

A veterinary department’s medical report revealed that the venom glands of all nine snakes were missing, along with the fangs of eight snakes, raising concerns about potential harm to the animals.

In response to the Guptas’ plea for police protection, the bench of Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi issued a notice to the Haryana government, scheduling the next hearing for April 18.

Yadav, who garnered attention recently for a public altercation with fellow YouTuber Sagar Thakur, remains embroiled in the legal proceedings related to the snake venom case. Charges against him include sections under the Indian Penal Code for negligent conduct related to poison and animals.

The case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding animal rights and the legal implications of wildlife protection violations, underscoring the need for swift and appropriate action to safeguard both animals and activists advocating for their welfare.

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