Elvish Yadav, the popular YouTuber and winner of Bigg Boss OTT 2, has often found himself in the headlines for reasons beyond his entertainment content. Here are five instances where he courted controversy:
Snake Venom Case (2023): In 2023, Elvish Yadav was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly possessing and distributing snake venom at rave parties. The venom, reportedly from cobra and krait species, was allegedly used as a recreational drug. Authorities seized nine snakes and 20ml of venom during the raid. He was charged under the Wildlife Protection Act. While Elvish was later released on bail after spending eight days in custody, he approached the Supreme Court to quash the chargesheet and summons issued against him. In May 2024, the Enforcement Directorate initiated a money laundering probe against the YouTuber in connection with this case. The Supreme Court stayed trial court proceedings after Yadav's counsel argued that no snakes or narcotics were recovered from him.
Fight with Maxtern (2024): Elvish Yadav was involved in a physical altercation with fellow YouTuber Sagar Thakur, also known as Maxtern, in March 2024. Maxtern accused Elvish of physical assault and even attempting to kill him. Videos circulating on social media showed Elvish beating up Maxtern. Elvish admitted to slapping him, claiming that Maxtern had threatened to "burn" him and his parents alive. Maxtern initially filed a police complaint, but later withdrew it, and the two publicly announced that they had made peace.
Accusations of Misbehaving with a Journalist (2023): In 2023, Elvish was accused of misbehaving with a journalist in Jammu after allegedly refusing a fan's photo request and snatching the journalist's microphone. According to reports, the incident occurred when the journalist questioned him about his visit to the Vaishno Devi temple. While viral videos suggested that Elvish was mobbed, he dismissed these claims as a "fake narrative". No formal legal action was reported.
Racist Remarks Controversy (2025): During a podcast with Rajat Dalal in February 2025, Elvish made remarks about Bigg Boss 18 finalist Chum Darang, which were perceived as mocking her name, ethnicity, and role in the Bollywood movie 'Gangubai Kathiawadi'. These comments sparked outrage, with the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women condemning him. The National Commission for Women summoned Elvish on April 22. He later issued an apology, removed the offensive segment from the podcast, and claimed that his remarks had been misconstrued.
Jaipur Police Convoy Controversy (2025): In February 2025, Elvish posted a vlog claiming that the Rajasthan Police provided him with a convoy during a visit to Jaipur. The video showed police vehicles trailing his car and bypassing a toll booth without payment. This led to allegations of police favoritism. However, the Jaipur Police Commissioner denied providing any security, stating that the vehicles were routine patrol units. An FIR was filed against Elvish for spreading "false propaganda".
