The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally seized assets worth Rs 52.49 lakh belonging to YouTuber Elvish Yadav, singer Rahul Yadav, also known as Fazilpuriya, and the company Sky Digital India Pvt. Ltd. This action is part of an ongoing money laundering investigation related to wildlife crimes involving the illegal use of snakes and exotic animals in music videos and vlogs, officials reported on Thursday.
The ED’s seizure follows allegations of money laundering stemming from an investigation conducted by Noida Police in a case involving snake venom. The assets seized include agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district and various bank accounts linked to the content creators and the company. Authorities took these actions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
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The investigation stems from two separate police cases that were filed in Noida and Haryana’s Badshahpur between November 2023 and March 2024. These cases invoke various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, against Yadav and several others.
In the first FIR, Noida police conducted a sting operation that led to the arrest of agents involved in supplying snakes and snake venom for parties. Following their investigation, the police charged Elvish Yadav and others.
The second FIR alleges that both Rahul Yadav and Elvish Yadav used snakes illegally in their music videos and vlogs, causing cruelty to wildlife. The ED’s investigation found that they had used protected species of snakes and exotic animals, such as iguanas, to attract viewers and generate income through their content.
The ED has identified proceeds of crime linked to this activity and has attached both movable and immovable properties belonging to Elvish Yadav, Rahul Yadav, and Sky Digital India Pvt. Ltd. The investigation underscores ongoing efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and illegal exploitation in the entertainment industry.
