Overview

• A Supreme Court bench led by Justices M M Sundresh and Joymalya Bagchi granted interim relief to Yadav by pausing trial proceedings on his appeal
• The court directed responses from the Uttar Pradesh government and complainant Gaurav Gupta before any further action in the trial court
• Yadav faces charges under multiple sections of the Wildlife Protection Act and the NDPS Act for allegedly supplying snake venom as a recreational intoxicant at rave parties
• He was arrested in March 2024 following a November 2023 raid that seized nine snakes, including cobras and kraits, and collected venom during an NGO sting operation
• His defence argues that no venom or narcotic substances were recovered from him personally and challenges the informant’s competence under the wildlife statute