Authorities have arrested G. Ranganathan, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, in connection with a series of child deaths in Madhya Pradesh linked to contaminated cough syrup.
The fatalities involve at least 22 children, primarily under the age of five, who died from acute kidney failure after consuming “Coldrif” syrup. Laboratory analysis revealed that the medicine contained diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial chemical, at concentrations as high as 48.6%, which is nearly 500 times the legal safety limit.
The arrest took place in Chennai following a multi-state manhunt by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). In addition to Ranganathan, a doctor in Chhindwara has been detained on suspicion of clinical negligence for prescribing the lethal batch.
Investigations into the Sresan manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu uncovered over 350 regulatory violations, including the use of industrial-grade solvents sourced from local chemical sellers and deeply unhygienic production conditions.
This tragedy has sparked international concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of significant regulatory gaps in India’s domestic drug oversight. While the Indian government mandated stricter testing for exported syrups in 2023, health experts note that domestic batches remain inconsistently screened.
The crackdown has since expanded to include other syrups, such as Respifresh and RELIFE, after they were also found to be contaminated with the same lethal chemical. As a global pharmaceutical hub, India’s ability to secure its manufacturing chain has become an urgent priority for both domestic and international health agencies.
