New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the criminal trial against YouTuber Elvish Yadav (also known as Siddharth) in a high-profile case alleging his involvement in organising rave parties where foreigners were invited and snake venom was allegedly used as a recreational drug.
A Bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice NK Singh also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government, seeking its response on Yadav’s petition challenging the criminal proceedings initiated against him under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Yadav’s counsel contended that the charges under the NDPS Act were not applicable, arguing that the invocation of such stringent provisions was aimed at sensationalizing the matter due to Yadav’s status as a social media “influencer” and a public figure who appears on reality shows.
The petition also challenged the applicability of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, asserting that a competent officer had not filed the complaint, which is a legal requirement under the Act. The counsel further claimed that the inclusion of snake venom as a narcotic substance under the NDPS Act lacked legal grounding in the context of the present case.
Previously, the Allahabad High Court had refused to quash the proceedings, holding in May this year that popularity cannot be a ground for legal immunity.
The High Court emphasised that "each and every person, irrespective of popularity or personality, is equal in the eyes of law."
The Supreme Court, while granting interim relief to Yadav, stayed the ongoing criminal trial and fixed the matter for further hearing after receiving the state’s response.
