Just days after a viral video allegedly showing TVK Human Resources Management Minister ‘Ghilli’ Sarath Kumar handling a white powder-like substance triggered a political storm, another video purportedly featuring the minister has surfaced on social media, intensifying the controversy surrounding him.
The latest clip, which has rapidly spread across social media platforms, allegedly shows Sarath Kumar at a beach holding and drinking from a canned beverage that several users have claimed appears to be beer. The authenticity of the video and the contents of the can have not been independently verified.
குழந்தை டானிக் சாப்பிட மாட்டேன் என அடம் பிடிச்சா-
அதான் பீச் தண்ணீரில் நடந்து கொண்டே டானிக் குடிக்குலாம் என குழந்தைக்கு உற்சாக படுத்திய போது கிளிக்கியது.. pic.twitter.com/San94xcz8k— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) June 29, 2026
The fresh controversy comes close on the heels of the minister’s earlier viral IPL stadium video, which sparked widespread criticism from political parties and social media users. The timing of that controversy proved particularly damaging, as it emerged on the very day Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay participated in an anti-drug awareness marathon marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The earlier video showed Sarath Kumar using an ATM card to crush a white powder-like substance on the screen of a mobile phone during an IPL match. It was alleged that the footage appeared to depict drug consumption, prompting demands for his resignation from opposition parties, including the DMK.
Responding to the allegations, Sarath Kumar denied any drug use and released a video statement alongside his wife and daughter. He said the footage had been deliberately misrepresented and explained that he was crushing a prescribed tablet for his then one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who was unwell and unable to swallow the medicine whole. According to the minister, the tablet was mixed with water after being crushed to make it easier for the child to consume.
Despite the clarification, the controversy escalated politically. The DMK student wing organised statewide protests demanding Sarath Kumar’s dismissal and arrest, accusing the TVK government of sending the wrong message on drug abuse. The minister’s explanation was rejected by the opposition, which questioned the circumstances surrounding the original video and its accompanying social media post.
Amid the backlash, reports also emerged of unease within the TVK leadership. Sources had claimed that the controversy reached Chief Minister Vijay, who was reportedly displeased with the developments. There were also reports that Sarath Kumar was kept away from at least one party programme while speculation grew over his political future, although no official action has been announced.
The emergence of the new beach video has once again placed the minister under public scrutiny. While social media users have alleged that the canned beverage seen in the footage is beer, neither the minister nor the government had issued an official response regarding the latest video at the time of writing.
With a second video now circulating within days of the first controversy, the political pressure on the minister is expected to intensify as the opposition continues to target the TVK government over the issue.
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