New Delhi, June 29, 2026 — The political climate in Tamil Nadu has reached a boiling point as an old, highly controversial video featuring state Human Resource Management Minister D. Sarath Kumar has resurfaced on social media. The viral footage, which shows the minister manipulating a white powdery substance, has triggered intense backlash from opposition parties, leading to widespread protests, police detentions, and mounting demands for his immediate resignation.
The controversy has dealt a significant political blow to the newly formed Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, especially as it directly coincides with the administration’s high-profile anti-drug campaigns.
The Video That Sparked the Controversy
The video at the center of the political firestorm dates back approximately two years. It was originally recorded during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match at Chennai’s famous M. A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk).
In the footage, Minister Sarath Kumar is seen sitting in the stadium stands, handling a white, powder-like substance spread across the screen of a smartphone. The video captures him using a bank ATM card and a rolled-up ₹500 currency note to crush and straighten out the lines of the powder. Adding fuel to the fire, reports indicate that the clip was originally shared on his personal Instagram account years ago as a close-friends story, complete with the caption “Thug Life.”
As the video went viral across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, social media users and political critics quickly pointed out that the method of manipulating the powder closely mimics the preparation of illicit narcotics.
Minister Denies Drug Allegations, Claims It Was ‘Child’s Medicine’
Facing intense public scrutiny, Minister Sarath Kumar issued a swift and emotional clarification. Releasing a two-minute video statement alongside his wife and daughter, the first-time MLA from Tambaram strongly denied all accusations of substance abuse, calling the narrative entirely false and malicious.
According to Sarath Kumar, the video captures a harmless family moment rather than illegal activity. He explained that his young daughter was feeling incredibly unwell during the cricket match and was unable to swallow her prescribed cold medication whole.
The minister’s wife also defended him, arguing that it is entirely illogical to suggest someone would consume illegal substances in a highly secure public stadium surrounded by thousands of spectators, family members, and heavy police security. The minister expressed deep personal distress over how a private family moment was twisted into a narcotics scandal.
Opposition Attacks and the Timing Dilemma
Despite the minister’s explanation, opposition parties, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), have heavily capitalized on the footage to attack the integrity of the ruling government. Critics have pointed out a key discrepancy in the video: while the minister and a woman are visible in the frame, his daughter does not appear in the specific viral snippet.
The timing of the video’s re-emergence has caused maximum political damage. It went viral just hours after Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay led a massive state-wide marathon campaign titled “Start Run, Stop Drugs” in Chennai, aimed at steering youth away from substance abuse.
DMK spokespersons and other opposition leaders have noted the glaring irony, arguing that a minister handling white powder with an ATM card and a currency note sends a terrible message to the public. DMK representatives posted online that the footage is “eerily similar to how people snort drugs” and demanded that Chief Minister Vijay immediately remove Sarath Kumar from the cabinet to preserve the integrity of the government’s anti-drug stance.
Current Situation: Protests and Police Investigation
The political friction has rapidly moved from social media onto the streets of Tamil Nadu. Over the last 48 hours, opposition groups have staged aggressive demonstrations demanding accountability. The escalating protests turned turbulent in certain pockets of the state, forcing law enforcement to step in. Around 20 political activists and protestors have reportedly been detained by the police to maintain public order.
Furthermore, the state’s top law enforcement officials have confirmed that they cannot take the viral allegations lightly. A senior police officer stated that the department will officially probe the video to investigate the exact nature of the event and put an end to the conflicting claims regarding drug usage.
As the police inquiry begins, the TVK government finds itself in a tight spot. Chief Minister Vijay, who has positioned his administration as fiercely adversarial to the drug menace in Tamil Nadu, faces a tough decision: stand firmly behind his newly inducted minister or bow to the growing opposition pressure to protect his government’s reputation.