A video circulated on social media alleging that TVK Human Resources Development Minister Sarathkumar was consuming narcotic substances at an IPL match has prompted the minister and his family to issue a detailed clarification, dismissing the allegation as false and announcing legal action against those responsible for spreading it. This comes at a time when Joseph Vijay ran 3 km ‘raising awareness’ against drugs.
The controversy emerged hours after Sarathkumar participated in an awareness programme promoting a drug-free society. Soon afterwards, a video purportedly showing him crushing a white substance on a ₹500 currency note using an ATM card began circulating online, with several social media users claiming it depicted narcotics consumption.
Responding to the allegations, Sarathkumar released a video along with his wife, stating that the incident had taken place nearly two years ago during an IPL match at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium when their young daughter fell ill.
According to the minister, the family had attended the match along with relatives and friends shortly after the birth of their child.
‘It Was My Child’s Medicine’
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the viral clip, Sarathkumar said the tablet seen in the video was prescribed medication that had to be crushed before being administered to his daughter.
“I attended an awareness event this morning aimed at creating a drug-free society. Following that, a false rumor began circulating. It stems from an incident about two years ago shortly after my child was born when we attended an IPL match with family and friends.”
“At that time, my wife was trying to administer medication to our child, who wouldn’t swallow the pill whole. To make it easier to give, she crushed the tablet and mixed it with water.”
The minister said the family had no option but to prepare the medicine inside the stadium because they were seated amidst thousands of spectators under heavy security arrangements.
“We were in the IPL stadium, surrounded by massive crowds and heavy police security, with people all around us in front and behind. We couldn’t simply leave to administer the medicine, so we crushed it right there. A video showing us crushing that pill is now being circulated with the false claim that it was drugs.”
Calling the allegation distressing, he appealed to the public not to spread misinformation.
Wife Statement Seems To Question Minister’s Version
Sarathkumar’s wife also appeared in the clarification video and confirmed that the tablet had been prescribed by a doctor after their daughter fell ill.
However, she said the child was around one-and-a-half years old at the time and was still being breastfed. Note that the minister said the child was just born.
According to her, doctors had advised that the medicine be crushed before being administered prior to feeding, and she had requested that the tablet be crushed accordingly.
She said someone had apparently recorded the family at that moment, and the footage was now being circulated out of context.
The minister stated that because the video had entered the public domain, the family felt compelled to explain what had actually happened.
He added that even genuine actions could be misunderstood when viewed without context, making it necessary to publicly clarify the incident.
‘Would Anyone Do Such A Thing In A Stadium?’
Rejecting the allegations, Sarathkumar questioned the plausibility of the claims, pointing out that the incident occurred inside a venue with stringent security arrangements.
He said entry into the stadium involved multiple layers of security screening and that the family had been seated among thousands of spectators throughout the match.
Questioning the allegations, he asked whether anyone would realistically consume narcotics in a crowded public venue while accompanied by family members and carrying a young child.
Legal Action Against Those Spreading Allegations
Describing the viral campaign as a deliberate attempt to malign his reputation, Sarathkumar said legal proceedings would be initiated against those responsible for circulating what he described as false and defamatory allegations.
He urged social media users to refrain from sharing misleading content and appealed for the immediate withdrawal of the claims.
The clarification comes after the viral clip was widely shared online with allegations that the minister was handling narcotic substances during an IPL match. Sarathkumar has categorically denied the allegation, maintaining that the video merely captured his family crushing prescribed medicine for their sick child in accordance with medical advice.
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