Conduct doping tests on filmstars, television actors too: MP minister's bizzare suggestion

Bhopal: With a drug angle emerging in the ongoing probe into the mysterious death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Madhya Pradesh medical education minister Vishwas Sarang on Friday demanded doping tests for film stars.

In a Twitter post, Sarang suggested doping tests for all film stars and actors of TV serials before shooting, similar to what sports persons undergo regularly before their practice.

"If tested positive in doping tests, the sports persons face a ban from sports. Similarly, the film stars should also undergo doping tests and if found taking banned drugs, then they should be banned from the profession," Sarang said.

"The doping tests for film stars and celebrities are necessary since their lifestyle influences the society," he told reporters.

Sarang said the drug tests on celluloid stars have become necessary now in the wake of the SSR death case pointing to drug angle.

The late actor’s girlfriend Rhea Chakravarty and her brother are currently under the scrutiny of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Sarang has found support for his suggestion from many social media followers.

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who has been following the Sushant death case commended  Sarang’s suggestion, “I am impressed by the Madhya Pradesh BJP Cabinet Minister for Medical Education Vishwas Sarang and his suggestion on Twitter that no cinema star can act in film without first having a drug test, as in Cricket. Pleased that BJP has such intelligent Ministers (sic)".