Chennai: Tamil Nadu Minister D. Sarath Kumar has landed in the middle of a social media controversy after an old video from an Indian Premier League (IPL) match resurfaced online, prompting allegations that he was using narcotics inside the stadium. The minister has firmly rejected the claims, saying the white powder seen in the viral clip was nothing more than crushed medicine for his young daughter.
The controversy began after a video recorded during an IPL match at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium started circulating widely across social media platforms. In the clip, Sarath Kumar is seen using what appears to be an ATM card and a ₹500 note to crush and spread a white substance on a mobile phone before handling it. The visuals quickly sparked speculation, with several users claiming the minister was consuming drugs.
Breaking his silence, Sarath Kumar said the allegations were “completely false” and taken out of context. According to him, the incident took place nearly two years ago when he attended the IPL game with his family. He explained that his daughter had fallen ill during the match and was unable to swallow a tablet. To make it easier for her to consume, he crushed the medicine into powder so it could be mixed with water.
To support his version, the minister released a video featuring his wife and daughter. His wife also dismissed the allegations, saying the family was together throughout the match and questioning why anyone would believe he would openly consume drugs in a packed cricket stadium under public view.
The issue gained further traction online because it surfaced shortly after the Tamil Nadu government intensified its anti drug awareness campaign. Political rivals and social media users seized on the viral clip, fuelling fresh debate despite the minister’s clarification.
As of now, no evidence has emerged to support the allegations of drug use. The minister has maintained that the viral video has been deliberately misrepresented to damage his reputation and has urged people not to fall for misinformation circulating on social media.
The episode once again highlights how old videos can resurface online without context, quickly triggering controversy before official explanations reach the public.
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