The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint against YouTuber Elvish Yadav, Haryanvi singer Rahul Yadav alias Fazilpuria, and several others, accusing them of money laundering in connection with a wildlife offence. The case stems from the alleged use of protected snake species and an iguana in their music videos and vlogs, which the agency says were monetised for profit. The complaint was filed by the ED’s Jaipur Zonal Office and lists Elvish Yadav, Fazilpuria, Sky Digital India Pvt Ltd, and its director Gurkaran Singh Dhaliwal as the main accused.
According to the ED, the accused individuals produced and distributed videos that featured live snakes and an iguana — a species protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. These animals were allegedly used in two videos: 32 Bore, a Haryanvi music video uploaded on Fazilpuria’s YouTube channel featuring Elvish Yadav, and Fazilpuria Bhai Ke Shoot Pe Russian Se Mulakat Ho Hi Gayi, a vlog uploaded on Yadav’s channel. Investigators say both videos were commercial in nature, violating Section 51 of the Wildlife Act, which in turn makes the offence a scheduled crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED’s investigation found that the videos had generated significant revenue through YouTube monetisation and licensing deals. Sky Digital India Pvt Ltd had reportedly paid Fazilpuria ₹50 lakh for the commercial rights to 32 Bore, while also earning ₹1.2 lakh in lifetime YouTube revenue from the same video. Elvish Yadav’s vlog featuring the snakes and iguana earned about ₹84,000 through YouTube monetisation. The agency said all this money amounted to “proceeds of crime” since it was derived from an activity linked to a scheduled offence.
To prevent dissipation of assets, the ED provisionally attached properties connected to the accused. These included an agricultural plot in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, worth ₹50 lakh belonging to Fazilpuria, a fixed deposit of ₹1.24 lakh in Sky Digital’s name, and another ₹84,000 fixed deposit held by Elvish Yadav in ICICI Bank. The agency’s charge sheet claims that Fazilpuria not only produced 32 Bore but also received and used funds generated from the unlawful use of protected wildlife.
Sky Digital and its director, Gurkaran Singh Dhaliwal, were accused of knowingly assisting in the monetisation process. The company had executed the distribution and content licensing agreements and facilitated payments, making it a key intermediary in what the ED calls a laundering network. Elvish Yadav, meanwhile, was accused of producing and uploading the vlog that directly featured the protected animals and collecting ad revenue from it.
The ED concluded that all the accused were involved in acquiring, possessing, and utilising money derived from illegal wildlife activity. It said their actions fall under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which defines money laundering as any process involving the handling of proceeds of crime. The offence is punishable under Section 4 of the Act, which prescribes imprisonment of up to seven years and financial penalties.
The case marks a rare intersection of wildlife protection laws and anti-money laundering legislation in India’s entertainment industry, drawing attention to the commercial use of exotic animals in online content and the legal consequences of monetising such material.
