Pharma Firm Owner Arrested Over Toxic Coldrif Syrup Linked to 20 Children’s Deaths

In a major development following a national health tragedy, police have arrested the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the Chennai-based company accused of manufacturing the contaminated Coldrif cough syrup that has been linked to the deaths of over 20 children in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The accused, identified as G. Ranganathan, a 73-year-old pharmacy graduate and the proprietor of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, was taken into custody in Chennai by a special investigation team (SIT) from Madhya Pradesh. The arrest comes as the death toll due to the consumption of the toxic medicine continues to rise, with most of the young victims, primarily under the age of five, succumbing to acute kidney failure.

The Poison in the Bottle: Diethylene Glycol

The tragic incident came to light after a cluster of children in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh developed sudden kidney complications after being treated for common cold and fever with Coldrif syrup. Laboratory tests conducted in Tamil Nadu confirmed the presence of the highly toxic industrial solvent, diethylene glycol (DEG), in a specific batch of the cough syrup (Batch No. SR-13).

The reports were alarming, indicating that the contaminated syrup contained an astonishing 48.6% diethylene glycol by volume. DEG is a deadly chemical commonly used in antifreeze and brake fluids. Ingesting even small quantities is known to cause rapid kidney failure and death, with the detected concentration being nearly 500 times the permissible limit in medicinal products.

Following the confirmation of the contamination, the Madhya Pradesh government immediately banned the sale, distribution, and stock of Coldrif syrup, extending the prohibition to all other medicines manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Several other states have also announced similar bans and launched inspections.

A History of Lapses and Negligence

The ongoing investigation has brought to light alleged systemic failures and shocking conditions at Sresan Pharmaceuticals’ manufacturing unit in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. An inspection by the state’s drug control department reportedly uncovered a staggering 364 violations. These included:

• Operating the facility with rusty, cracked, and leaking equipment, raising high concerns about cross-contamination.
• Lack of a purified water generation system, pest control, or proper cleaning procedures.
• Storage of medicines in corridors and use of non-pharmaceutical grade raw materials, such as propylene glycol, without proper invoices or sourcing records.

The facility had been operating since 2011, prompting questions about the oversight provided by state drug control authorities who had allowed the unit to function despite a seemingly long history of severe lapses in quality control and hygiene.

Wider Investigation and Accountability

The arrest of the pharmaceutical company’s owner is a significant step in the wider manslaughter investigation. Authorities had earlier registered an FIR against the company’s operators and a local pediatrician in Chhindwara who had prescribed the contaminated syrup to many of the victims. The pediatrician’s arrest, however, sparked protests from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which argued that the manufacturer and the regulatory system were the primary culprits.

The crisis has also prompted action against government officials, with the Madhya Pradesh government suspending and transferring several drug inspectors and deputy directors for alleged negligence in their duty to monitor drug quality. The Union Health Ministry has also launched risk-based inspections across multiple states to audit drug manufacturing units and ensure adherence to quality and safety standards.

The Coldrif syrup tragedy underscores the critical need for comprehensive reforms in India’s drug regulatory framework to prevent such fatal incidents and restore public trust in the country’s vast pharmaceutical sector. The arrested owner is expected to be brought to Madhya Pradesh on transit remand for further interrogation as the police intensify their probe into the production and distribution of the deadly medicine.