Tamil Nadu Minister D. Sarathkumar Denies Drug-Use Allegations in Viral IPL Video

A short video circulating on social-media platforms depicts Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Human Resources Management, D. Sarathkumar, using a credit or debit card to trace a line of white powder placed on a mobile-phone screen. Viewers interpreted the scene as preparation for drug snorting, prompting widespread speculation about illicit substance use by a senior public official.

The Hindu

The minister clarified that the footage was recorded approximately two years earlier, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, and has resurfaced amid “rumours.” He asserted that the clip was selectively edited and shared to create a false impression of drug handling.

The Hindu

D. Sarathkumar holds the portfolio for Human Resources Management in the Tamil Nadu state government. His public duties include overseeing labour policies and welfare programs for the state’s workforce.

The Hindu

• ~2024 – Video captured at an IPL match; shows Sarathkumar handling a white substance.

The Hindu

• June 26 2026 – Sarathkumar addresses the media, denying drug-use allegations.

The Hindu

• June 26 2026 onward – Social-media users circulate the clip, labeling it as evidence of drug consumption.

The Hindu

Sarathkumar told reporters that the white powder was a crushed tablet intended for his one-and-a-half-year-old child, who had been refusing to swallow the medicine. He explained that the tablet was mixed with liquid to facilitate ingestion. The minister emphasized that individuals present at the time can corroborate this explanation and accused online actors of misrepresenting the footage to suggest illicit drug use.

The Hindu

Online commentary framed the video as indicative of possible misconduct, fueling doubts about the minister’s personal conduct. No formal statements from opposition parties or independent investigative bodies are recorded in the available sources.

The Hindu

The source material provides only the minister’s account and the viral video itself; there is no independent forensic analysis confirming the substance’s nature. Consequently, verification of the claim that the powder was a medicinal tablet remains absent.

The Hindu

• “The video has been wrongly interpreted. Those who were present with me know what actually happened,” — D. Sarathkumar, Tamil Nadu Minister for Human Resources Management

The Hindu

• “ He contended the clip showed him crushing a tablet for his one-and-a-half-year-old child after his wife told him the child was refusing to take the medicine and was spitting out the tablet.” — D. Sarathkumar

The Hindu

• “He said they crushed the tablet and mixed it with liquid to make it easier for the child to consume.” — D. Sarathkumar

The Hindu

• “The Minister alleged the video had been selectively shared on social media to create a false impression that he was handling drugs.” — D. Sarathkumar

The Hindu

The episode illustrates how archived footage can be repurposed in digital discourse, potentially affecting public trust in elected officials. Should the controversy persist without independent clarification, it may influence the minister’s credibility and the broader perception of the Tamil Nadu government’s handling of personal-conduct allegations.

The Hindu