Elvish Yadav Granted Bail in Snake Venom Supply Case

In a recent legal development, Advocate Prashant Rathi announced that bail had been granted to the accused, Yadav, in a case related to the alleged supply of snake venom for recreational purposes. Rathi disclosed that the court had considered Elvish Yadav’s bail application, ultimately requiring him to furnish two bail bonds of ₹50,000 each, to be submitted in court.

The legal saga dates back to November 3 of the previous year when Yadav, aged 26, along with five others, was booked under various charges including the Wildlife (Protection) Act and Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The charges stemmed from accusations of supplying snake venom to partygoers, purportedly for recreational use. Notably, the other five individuals who were detained alongside Yadav on November 3 were subsequently released on bail on November 22, 2023.

However, the legal entanglements did not cease there. On March 17, Yadav, a resident of Wazirabad village in Gurugram, found himself in the custody of the Noida Police in connection with ongoing investigations into the case. Following his arrest, Yadav was remanded to 14-day judicial custody by the local magistrate court.

The gravity of the charges against Yadav escalated when the police added allegations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, alongside sections 284 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substances) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animals) of the IPC. This decision came after a forensic report linked a 20ml liquid substance, suspected to be snake venom, recovered from a party to the ongoing investigation.

Subsequently, on March 20, Yadav’s associates, Ishwar and Vinay Yadav, were also apprehended by the Noida Police in connection with the case, further complicating the legal proceedings.

During the most recent court hearing, Pradeep Kumar, additional district government counsel, vehemently opposed Yadav’s bail, presenting allegations against him. According to Kumar, a welfare officer from the People for Animals (PFA) NGO had filed an FIR, alleging Yadav’s involvement in activities such as taking photos and videos with snakes in farmhouses across Delhi-NCR. The prosecution argued that these claims, coupled with the recovery of snake venom and live snakes during the raid, constituted substantial evidence against Yadav.

However, Yadav’s legal representatives, Rathi and Deepak Bhati, countered these accusations, asserting that their client had been wrongfully implicated in the case. They argued that the police had failed to recover any substance listed under the NDPS Act from Yadav’s possession. Furthermore, they highlighted procedural irregularities, noting that complaints under the Wildlife Act could only be filed by government officials, not NGO workers. Rathi and Bhati also pointed out that the other five accused, from whom the snake venom was allegedly recovered, had already been granted bail, providing a strong basis for Yadav’s release.

The legal proceedings culminated in the ruling of Jaihind Kumar Singh, the additional chief judicial magistrate, who granted bail to Yadav and his associates. Singh emphasized the importance of cooperation with the ongoing investigation and compliance with the conditions of bail.

While the District Jail in Greater Noida has received the release order for Yadav, his legal journey is far from over. It has been confirmed that Yadav will be produced before the Gurugram court on Saturday, as he faces another legal matter.

In conclusion, the intricate legal proceedings surrounding the alleged supply of snake venom have resulted in bail being granted to Yadav and his associates. Despite the bail, the legal battle continues, underscoring the complexities and nuances involved in such cases.