The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken decisive action in the case of the Coldrif cough syrup tragedy, attaching assets belonging to G. Ranganathan, the promoter of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, in Chennai. The attached properties include two flats in Chennai worth ₹2.04 crore, owned by Ranganathan and his family members. This move comes in the wake of investigations into the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh, which have been linked to the consumption of Coldrif cough syrup manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals.
Ranganathan was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police in October. The ED's investigation revealed that Sresan Pharma allegedly engaged in unfair trade practices to reduce manufacturing costs and increase profits, which the agency considers proceeds of crime. According to the ED, the company used industry-grade raw materials instead of pharma-grade materials in the manufacturing process without proper quality checks. These materials were allegedly purchased in cash without invoices to avoid creating records.
The case gained prominence after it was discovered that the Coldrif syrup contained lethal levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent used in antifreeze. The contamination led to acute renal failure among children in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district.
Following the incident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered a statewide ban on Coldrif and all Sresan Pharma products. Subsequently, the company's manufacturing license was revoked. Several other states, including Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi, also banned the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) investigation revealed that Sreesan Pharma had been operating since 2011 with inadequate quality checks, despite repeated warnings and poor infrastructure. Tamil Nadu drug control authorities confirmed that Batch SR-13 (manufactured May 2025, expiry April 2027) contained deadly levels of diethylene glycol.
The ED initiated a money laundering case against the accused, taking cognizance of two FIRs, one filed by the Madhya Pradesh Police and another by the Tamil Nadu Police. The Madhya Pradesh Police complaint alleged that Coldrif contained toxic glycol compounds, leading to multiple incidents of acute renal failure and the deaths of at least 20 children. Laboratory findings confirmed the presence of high concentrations of Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol, far beyond the safe limit.
In October 2025, the ED conducted raids at seven locations in Chennai linked to Sresan Pharma and Tamil Nadu drug control officials. The agency suspects that profits earned from the sale of the adulterated cough syrup are proceeds of crime. The ED is also investigating potential regulatory lapses and corruption.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed serious concern over the deaths, warning of a regulatory gap in India's domestic drug safety mechanisms.
