NEW DELHI: Elvish Yadav, YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT winner reacted after the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed an FIR and criminal case against him in a case related to the alleged use of snake venom at a rave party in UP’s Noida, saying he now felt “free” and calling it his “Independence Day”.Following the verdict, Yadav said he always trusted the justice system, but questioned who would compensate him and his family for the anguish they suffered.
Elvish Yadav was booked by the Uttar Pradesh Police in November 2023 and subsequently arrested on March 17, 2024, as part of an investigation into the alleged use of snake venom as a recreational drug. He was among six people named in an FIR registered at the Sector 49 police station in Noida.A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh ruled that the case could not be sustained in law, noting that the complaint under the Wildlife (Protection) Act had not been filed by an authorized person.In a video shared on X, Yadav expressed his relief after the ruling and said he felt vindicated.“I am very happy today. The Supreme Court quashed the snake-related case against me. I always had faith in our judicial system that justice would prevail. Those who have done wrong will be punished and the innocent will be saved,” he said.He thanked the judiciary and said he now felt “free” after the case was dismissed.Recalling his arrest, he said, “Exactly two years ago, on March 17, 2024, I was arrested in this false case. Since November 2023, when the case was registered, I have been saying that I had done nothing wrong.”Yadav also alleged that the media coverage caused significant hardship to him and his family.“The media continuously published reports claiming that I was guilty. My family faced immense harassment. For more than two and a half years, there was a stigma attached to my name and my family suffered a lot,” he said.Calling the verdict a turning point, he added: “Today is a great day for me. Everything is fine now because the case has been won. Satyamev Jayate (truth prevails).”However, he expressed concern about the consequences of the case on his personal life.“I only have one question: who will compensate for the harassment my family and I suffered? Will anyone apologize for the false narratives and turmoil created?” said.He clarified that he was not looking for an apology, but wondered how the loss of time and suffering could be addressed.Yadav said he now wants to move forward and thanked his fans for supporting him.“I hope no one has to go through such a difficult time. My return was strong because I had the support of my family and my supporters. Thank you to everyone who supported me and trusted me. The Supreme Court has proven it today,” he said.
