Chennai / Chhindwara: In a major development in the Coldrif cough syrup tragedy that has claimed at least 20 children’s lives in Madhya Pradesh, police on Wednesday night arrested S. Ranganathan, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, from his residence in Chennai.
According to police sources, a special team from Madhya Pradesh travelled to Chennai and Kanchipuram to apprehend Ranganathan, whose company is accused of manufacturing the toxic cough syrup linked to multiple deaths. The arrest was made in Ashok Nagar, following coordination between the Madhya Pradesh Police and local Chennai authorities.
Officials said Ranganathan will be taken to the company’s Kanchipuram factory for further investigation into the production and distribution of the tainted medicine.
A case has been registered under Sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 27A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The Tragedy in Madhya Pradesh
The deaths, reported primarily from Chhindwara district, have plunged Madhya Pradesh into a major health crisis. Medical investigations revealed that the Coldrif syrup contained highly toxic chemicals that caused acute kidney damage in children. Symptoms of renal failure appeared within hours of consumption, leading to rapid deterioration and death.
Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, addressing the media in Chhindwara, confirmed that the government is taking “all necessary steps to ensure justice” and that a special police team had been dispatched to Tamil Nadu to arrest those responsible.
Nationwide Response and Ban
In the wake of growing outrage, the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup have been banned in several states, including Punjab, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Authorities in Chhindwara have sealed five medical stores and sent samples of the syrup for laboratory testing. Public announcements are also being made across villages, warning parents not to administer cough syrup to children without medical advice.
Doctors Under Scrutiny and Legal Action
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has voiced concern over what it described as the “wrongful implication” of doctors in the case. Some private practitioners, including Dr. Praveen Soni, are under investigation for allegedly prescribing or administering the fatal syrup.
Meanwhile, advocate Vishal Tiwari has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, seeking a court-monitored probe into the incident and demanding systemic reforms in India’s drug safety and monitoring mechanisms.
The PIL also urges the formation of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to investigate lapses in pharmaceutical regulation and ensure accountability.
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