Tamil Nadu Minister Denies Drug Use Allegations After Old Video Resurfaces

Tamil Nadu Minister D. Sarathkumar has vehemently denied drug use allegations following the resurfacing of a two-year-old video

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu human resources management minister D Sarathkumar on Friday denied allegations of drug use after a two-year-old video resurfaced in social media, showing him arranging a powder-like substance on the surface of a mobile phone. “I was crushing a tablet meant for my daughter since she was refusing to take the pill as a whole,’’ Sarathkumar said in a clarification video. Sarathkumar said the old footage was shot during an IPL match two years ago and asked how it was possible to consume drugs when there were scores of people as well as the public around. The clipping was posted by Sarathkumar himself, with the caption ‘Thug Life Moments.’ It showed the minister lining up the white powder on the surface of a mobile phone. He was using a debit card to do so and was holding a currency note in the other. This clipping had started circulating soon after chief minister C Joseph Vijay ran an anti-drug awareness marathon with many questioning the nature of the substance that Sarathkumar was handling in the video. Sarathkumar said the allegation that he was using drug was baseless and politically motivated. The minister said he was prepared to cooperate with any inquiry if required.