ED Seizes Assets of YouTuber and Singer in Wildlife Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally seized assets worth Rs 52.49 lakh from YouTuber Elvish Yadav, singer Rahul Yadav alias Fazilpuriya, and Sky Digital India Pvt. Ltd. as part of a money laundering investigation linked to wildlife crimes involving the illegal use of snakes and exotic animals in music videos and vlogs. The assets, including agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh and bank accounts, were seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after investigations led by the Noida Police. The inquiry follows two FIRs filed between November 2023 and March 2024, alleging that both Yadavs caused cruelty to wildlife by using protected species in their content. According to the ED, the music videos were produced to increase their followers and generate revenue, with the materials provided to Sky Digital India Pvt. Ltd. for uploading on YouTube. The investigation also stems from a sting operation where agents supplying snakes were apprehended. Yadav and Fazilpuriya have previously been questioned regarding the illegal trade of snake venom.