Pharma Company Owner Arrested in India Over Child Deaths Linked to Toxic Cough Syrup

The owner of a Tamil Nadu based pharmaceutical company was arrested today in Chennai by police from Madhya Pradesh, in connection with the deaths of at least 21 children who allegedly consumed contaminated cough syrup manufactured by his firm. G. Ranganathan, 75, the proprietor of Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer in Kancheepuram, was taken into custody from his residence.

The arrest is a major development in a multi-state Indian investigation sparked by the tragic fatalities, primarily in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, as well as reports of deaths in Rajasthan. The children, mostly under the age of five, developed symptoms of acute kidney failure after being administered the product, named Coldrif cough syrup.

Ranganathan was detained by a seven member team from the Madhya Pradesh Special Investigation Team, who travelled to Chennai to execute the arrest. He has been booked under various sections, including those relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and drug adulteration. Authorities are now seeking a transit remand to move him to Chhindwara for further investigation.

Laboratory reports confirmed the deadly nature of the product. An analysis by the Government Analyst at the Drug Testing Laboratory, Chennai, declared the cough syrup "Not of Standard Quality" and dangerously adulterated. The report found that the syrup contained 48.6 per cent Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical often used in brake fluids and antifreeze, which is highly poisonous if ingested. Following this confirmation, the Madhya Pradesh government, along with several other state governments, imposed an immediate ban on the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup and all other medicines produced by Sresan Pharmaceuticals. The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department has sealed the manufacturing unit and is initiating the process to permanently cancel the company's license following a recent inspection that revealed over 360 major violations of good manufacturing practices.

See our previous article related to this.

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