Cough syrup deaths: MP police arrest owner of Coldrif manufacturer Sresan Pharmaceutical

In a major development, the Madhya Pradesh Police have arrested the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the Chennai-based manufacturer of the Coldrif cough syrup allegedly responsible for the death of at least 20 children in the state.

According to the Chhindwara SP, Ranganathan Govindan will be produced before a Chennai court and will be brought to Madhya Pradesh subsequently.

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The development comes a day after Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Rajendra Shukla informed that 20 chidlren have died in the state allegedly after consuming the Coldrif cough syrup and five others are undergoing treatment.

“Twenty children have lost their lives in the unfortunate incident from Chhindwara, Betul and Pandhurna districts. The state government is quite strict. The police teams from Chhindwara have reached Chennai and Kanchipuram to arrest the owner of Coldrif manufacturing company and strict action is being taken into the matter,” Shukla had told reporters on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, a Madhya Pradesh doctor, who had prescribed the contaminated cough syrup, was also arrested by the police.

According to reports, Dr Praveen Soni had allegedly prescribed the Coldrif syrup to several children who were being treated at his private clinic in Parasia. Dr Soni is currently in jail after a court sent him to 14-day police custody.

A case was also registered against the Coldrif manufacturer, Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

Facing widespread criticism over the death of children, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s government banned the sale of Coldrif in the state. He also directed authorities to sieze the existing stock of the cough syrup and suspended two drug inspectors.