DMK Protest Erupts In Chennai Over Resurfaced Drug Allegation Video Involving TVK Minister Sarath Kumar

Political heat over a resurfaced video involving TVK minister Sarath Kumar intensified in Chennai on 29 June 2026, after DMK Students Wing members attempted to protest near Rajarathinam Stadium and demanded action against him. The video allegedly shows Sarath handling a white powder-like substance during an IPL match in Chennai two years ago.

The protest was stopped by police, who said permission had not been granted for the demonstration at the location. More than 20 DMK Students Wing members were detained for allegedly violating prohibitory orders. Officials indicated that those detained were likely to be released later in the day.

DMK protest in Chennai over resurfaced Sarath Kumar video

The DMK Students Wing protest was organised after the old clip began circulating widely on social media again. Protesters alleged that the footage raised serious questions about possible drug use and demanded Sarath Kumar’s resignation and arrest. The issue quickly turned into a larger political flashpoint between the ruling TVK and opposition parties in Tamil Nadu.

According to the allegations, the video was originally posted by Sarath Kumar on his own social media account with the caption “Thug Life”. The clip purportedly shows him seated at a cricket stadium, crushing a white substance on a mobile phone screen with a debit card and a currency note while an IPL match was underway.

DMK leaders argued that the images could not be dismissed casually, especially at a time when drug abuse has become a recurring political issue in Tamil Nadu. They said public representatives and ministers must be held to a higher standard, even when allegations arise from older material that resurfaces online.

The police action near Rajarathinam Stadium added another layer to the controversy. DMK functionaries accused the authorities of preventing a peaceful protest. Police maintained that permission had not been granted and that the demonstrators had assembled despite restrictions in place near the venue.

Opposition questions police action and anti-drug efforts

DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Health Minister M A Subramanian criticised the government’s handling of the protest. He accused the administration of suppressing democratic dissent and said the party had informed the authorities in advance about its plan to demonstrate. He also questioned the broader law and order situation in the state.

Subramanian linked the controversy to Tamil Nadu’s anti-drug efforts, arguing that the government should respond more firmly when allegations involve a minister. He said earlier administrations had run stronger awareness campaigns against drug use and insisted that leaders in public life must face scrutiny when such videos emerge.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan also criticised the police response. He alleged that party workers were detained while they were trying to make arrangements for the protest. The opposition’s criticism focused not only on the video, but also on what it described as unequal treatment of political protests by the police.

The resurfaced video has given opposition parties a fresh opening to attack the TVK government. It has also placed the ruling party in a difficult position because Sarath Kumar was recently inducted into Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s cabinet as Human Resources Minister.

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: DMK Chennai Students wings hold a protest against TVK Human resource Minister Sarath for allegedly using drugs in cricket stadium during an IPL match in Chennai 2 years ago. pic.twitter.com/dYg0Ddp9mn

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2026

Sarath Kumar denies drug allegation, says substance was medicine

Sarath Kumar has denied the allegation that the substance seen in the video was a drug. He has said it was a crushed medicinal tablet that was administered to his sick daughter during the match. He has also argued that the clip is being misrepresented after being taken out of context on social media.

The minister’s explanation has not ended the political backlash. Opposition leaders have continued to demand a formal probe, saying the matter concerns the conduct of a cabinet member. They have also argued that a public clarification alone is not enough when the visual has triggered widespread discussion online.

TVK has distanced itself from the incident as pressure grows. The party has not embraced the video as a defensible political controversy, even as Sarath Kumar maintains that there was no wrongdoing. This cautious approach reflects the sensitivity of drug-related allegations in Tamil Nadu politics.

The issue has also drawn a response from DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth. She condemned the footage as “highly condemnable” and said public representatives must maintain proper conduct. She added that the timing of the clip’s circulation, during an anti-drug campaign in the state, was unfortunate.

For the TVK government, the controversy comes at a politically awkward moment. The party, led by actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay, has sought to project itself as a serious administrative force. Allegations involving a minister, even if denied, can affect that messaging when amplified through viral social media circulation.

Why the controversy matters politically

The case underlines how old social media videos can become active political weapons when they resurface in a new context. A clip posted years earlier can trigger protests, police action and ministerial pressure if it appears to conflict with a government’s present public messaging.

It also shows the growing importance of visual evidence in political disputes. Short videos often travel faster than official explanations. In this case, the minister’s denial and the opposition’s allegations are now competing with the public perception created by a viral clip.

The next significant development will depend on whether the government, police or any competent authority orders an inquiry into the video. Until then, the dispute is likely to remain both a political and reputational challenge for Sarath Kumar and the TVK administration.