Case against Elvish Yadav: Complainant claims threat to life

Complainant in case against YouTuber Elvish Yadav & singer Rahul Yadav seeks protection, fearing for his life after receiving threats. Next hearing on March 28.

Updated on: Mar 6, 2024, 05:46:07 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The complainant who had filed a case against YouTuber Elvish Yadav and singer Rahul Yadav alias Fazilpuriya for using snakes in a music video, has flagged a threat to his life and sought protection.

On Tuesday, the complainant Saurabh Gupta, an officer of the People for Animals (PFA) organization, applied to the court highlighting that he was receiving threats. He alleged that there could be an attack on him like Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and INLD leader Nafe Singh Rathi. He said that another date should be given in the case, so that the police could ensure his security.

According to the police, the next hearing has been scheduled for March 28.

On November 3, six people, including YouTuber Elvish Yadav, were booked under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and Section 120A (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly providing snake venom for a party in Noida’s Sector 51

Elvish Yadav told the Noida police on November 8, last year that two snakes that featured in his music video and had been arranged by a Bollywood singer.

The status report of the investigation was to be submitted in court on Tuesday and during the hearing, a lawyer appeared in the court on behalf of Elvish Yadav. While hearing the matter, the court of additional chief judicial magistrate Manoj Rana fixed the date for the next hearing on March 28.

Gupta has also written to the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana high court, District and Sessions Judge of Gurugram and Gurugram police commissioner. In the letter, he has written that he is continuously receiving death threats on social media. He said that he is being pressurized to withdraw the complaint. He had also put in a complaint about this at the Nandgram police station of Ghaziabad. The people who were threatening him were of a criminal bent of mind and he should be provided security, he claimed.

PFA on February 20 had filed a 13-point reply in the Gurugram court regarding the use of rare species of snakes in the music video featuring Elvish Yadav and singer Rahul Yadav. A complaint was made to Gurugram Police on behalf of PFA. In the complaint made by Gupta, it was said that both have used snakes in the song in a commercial manner. When Gurugram Police did not register a complaint, Saurabh Gupta approached the court.

In November, last year the police arrested five people and recovered several snakes from their possession. The action was taken based on a sting operation carried out by the People for Animals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More