The owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactures Coldrif Cough Syrup, has been arrested following the deaths of at least 21 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Investigations revealed that the syrup contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial chemical.
According to police, Ranganathan was arrested in Chennai on Wednesday night. He will be taken to Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh — where most of the deaths occurred — after securing a transit remand, as reported by news agency ANI.
His arrest came shortly after being detained for questioning by the Madhya Pradesh Police.
In response to the alarming findings, several states — including Madhya Pradesh — have banned the sale and distribution of Coldrif Cough Syrup. Authorities have also launched a wider investigation into the company’s operations and product safety standards.
A test report from the Government Analyst at the Drug Testing Laboratory, Chennai, confirmed that the cough syrup was “Not of Standard Quality.” The laboratory found that it contained 48.6% by volume of diethylene glycol, an industrial chemical, which is highly toxic to humans.
The report stated: “The sample was found to be adulterated since it contains Diethylene Glycol (48.6% w/v), a poisonous substance which may render the contents injurious to health.”
The discovery has sparked widespread concern over drug safety and regulatory oversight in India, with calls for stricter enforcement of quality control in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
