YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner Elvish Yadav has broke his silence on Saturday, December 20, 2025, regarding allegations that he participated in an “NGO scam.
The controversy erupted after Elvish posted a video seeking donations for a child suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), which requires a life-saving injection costing ₹9 crore from the US.
The situation escalated when comedian Munawar Faruqui shared a cautionary message on Instagram about “paid emotional appeals” by influencers, which many interpreted as a direct shot at Elvish.2
Elvish’s Defense: “I Don’t Charge for Help”
In a fiery video response, Elvish clarified that his involvement was purely humanitarian and driven by a close friend’s request.
Transparency: Elvish noted that the campaign is hosted on Milaap, a reputable crowdfunding platform, and that all medical documents and doctor names were verified before he posted.3
Financial Independence: “I don’t believe in scams. By God’s grace, I already have more than enough,” Elvish said. “We do our own shows, and God has blessed us well. Doing a scam for such trivial things is not my style.”
The Logic: He questioned the logic of the accusations, stating, “I don’t take money for helping anyone.4 If the family were giving me money, then what need do they have for help?”
The “Cold War”: Munawar vs. Elvish
While Munawar Faruqui did not name Elvish, his timing and specific examples led fans to believe the two reality stars were at loggerheads again.
| Munawar’s Allegations | Elvish’s Clarification |
| NGOs pay influencers high fees to make “emotional reels” for donations. | The appeal was for a friend’s child; no money was exchanged with any agency. |
| Some crowdfunding appeals are business-motivated “scams.” | The campaign includes a public barcode and fund-tracking on Milaap. |
| Claims a company approached him in Amsterdam with a similar “shady” offer. | Asserted that people just look for excuses to “pull others down.” |
The SMA Challenge
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) has become a recurring theme in Indian crowdfunding due to the astronomical cost of Zolgensma, a gene therapy injection.