SC quashes FIR against Elvish Yadav in snake venom case, ends proceeding

The Supreme Court of India quashed the FIR and all criminal proceedings against YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT winner Elvish Yadav in the high-profile snake venom case, granting him major legal relief, as per reports.

A bench of the apex court reportedly ruled that the case could not be sustained in law due to multiple procedural and legal flaws. It struck down not only the FIR but also the chargesheet and related trial court proceedings, effectively bringing an end to the case. 

The case dates back to November 2023, when an FIR was registered in Noida alleging Yadav’s involvement in arranging snake venom at rave parties, where it was purportedly used as an intoxicant. The allegations had triggered widespread media attention and led to his arrest in March 2024. 

However, the Supreme Court reportedly identified key lapses in the prosecution’s case. It noted that the original complaint under the Wildlife Protection Act was filed by a person not authorised to do so, making it legally invalid. The court also observed that certain IPC charges were linked to an earlier case that had already been closed, and therefore could not be reused. 

Importantly, the bench reportedly  held that provisions of the NDPS Act were wrongly invoked, as the substance recovered from a co-accused identified as anti-venom did not qualify as a banned or psychotropic substance under the law. 

Taking these factors into account, the court concluded that the proceedings were unsustainable and ordered them to be quashed entirely, as per reports.

The ruling overturns earlier decisions, including the refusal of the Allahabad High Court to grant relief to Yadav. The case had remained in the spotlight due to Yadav’s popularity and the sensational nature of the allegations, but the Supreme Court’s verdict now brings a decisive legal closure.