The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 52.49 lakh of YouTuber Elvish Yadav, singer Rahul Yadav alias Fazilpuriya, and a company as part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case in connection with the case of wildlife crime, including the use of snakes and exotic animals in music videos and vlogs, said officials on Thursday.
This action has been taken by the ED on alleged charges of money laundering after the Noida Police investigation in the snake venom case.
These assets, including agriculture land in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh and bank accounts, are linked to popular content creators Siddharth Yadav alias Elvish Yadav, Rahul Yadav alias Fazilpuria and Sky Digital India Pvt. Ltd., said an ED statement. These properties have been seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
In unrelated police complaints lodged against Elvish Yadav, Rahul Yadav, and others in Noida and Badshahpur in Haryana between November 2023 and March 2024, an investigation has been launched under various sections of the IPC, 1860, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
In the first FIR, it is mentioned that Noida police, during a sting operation, caught agents involved in supplying snakes and snake venom for parties.
After thorough investigation, the police charge sheeted Elvish Yadav and others.
The second FIR further states that Rahul Yadav and Elvish Yadav used snakes illegally for music videos and vlogs and did acts of cruelty against wildlife.
ED investigation conducted in the case revealed that Rahul Yadav and Elvish Yadav have been utilizing protected species of snakes and exotic animals, such as iguanas for the manufacturing and creation of commercial video songs and vlogs to increase their followers and earn money.
Another investigation revealed that these videos were provided to M/s Sky Digital India Pvt. Ltd., and the videos were uploaded on YouTube to collect income.
The ED has seized both movable and immovable properties belonging to Rahul Yadav, Elvish Yadav, and M/s Sky Digital India Pvt. Ltd., which it has identified as proceeds of crime related to this activity.
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