Faced with the tragic deaths of at least 23 children in Madhya Pradesh, local residents and lawyers are demanding the death penalty for G. Ranganathan, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals. The children died after consuming Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, which was found to be contaminated with dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical used in antifreeze.
G. Ranganathan, a 73-year-old veteran in the pharmaceutical industry, was arrested in Chennai by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the Madhya Pradesh Police. He has been remanded to 10 days of police custody. Authorities are interrogating Ranganathan about the manufacturing processes, personnel involved, and quality control measures at his factory in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. Police have stated that it is "highly unusual" that a 46% concentration of toxic substances could be added by mistake or negligence.
The arrest followed a national scandal after laboratory tests confirmed the cough syrup contained 48.6% DEG. This is nearly 500 times the permissible limit. The consumption of the contaminated syrup led to acute kidney failure in children under the age of five, primarily in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. Fatalities have also been reported in Rajasthan.
News of the incident has sparked widespread outrage. Protests have erupted with locals and lawyers expressing their anger and demanding the harshest punishment for Ranganathan. The Madhya Pradesh government had earlier announced a reward of ₹20,000 for information leading to Ranganathan's arrest.
The Tamil Nadu government has sealed the Sresan Pharmaceuticals unit in Kancheepuram and initiated the process of permanently cancelling its license. The Madhya Pradesh Police have registered a criminal case against Ranganathan under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities in several states have issued urgent alerts to seize all existing stocks of Coldrif syrup and other products manufactured by the firm to prevent further casualties.
In response to the crisis, the Madhya Pradesh government has banned the sale of Coldrif and directed authorities to seize existing stocks of the cough syrup. The state government has also offered ₹4 lakh compensation to each victim's family.
The tragedy has brought scrutiny to India's drug safety mechanisms. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the case highlights a "regulatory gap" in the screening of medicines being sold domestically. Two drug inspectors and a deputy controller of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in Madhya Pradesh have been suspended for negligence. A government pediatrician, Dr. Praveen Soni, has also been arrested for prescribing the syrup to many of the deceased children. However, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has objected to his arrest, with doctors and pharmacists protesting in Chhindwara demanding his release.
The Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking drug safety reforms, with the Solicitor General arguing that states are already taking action and have enforcement mechanisms.
