A court in the town of Parasia, Chhindwara, sent the owner of Sresan Pharma, Ranganathan, to 10‑day police custody after police linked him to the deaths of children who had taken Coldrif cough syrup. The judge heard the case earlier that day while police officers stood ready to take a medical exam of Ranganathan and start new proceedings in Chennai before bringing him back to Chhindwara.
Police in Chhindwara explained that the Special Investigation Team had caught Ranganathan in the night. “He was arrested and will undergo a medical check, then the case will be forwarded to Chennai,” Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey told reporters. After the investigations, he will return to local courts.
The news has sparked anger among local pharmacists. The Chhindwara Chemist Association announced an indefinite strike after authorities took action against the seals on several medical stores in the district earlier this week.
State officials said the tragedy is still unfolding. Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla confirmed that 20 children in Madhya Pradesh have died after drinking Coldrif cough syrup, and five are still being treated. Seventeen of the children died in Chhindwara, two in Betul, and one in Pandhurna. The state government is tightening controls, and police teams from Chhindwara have traveled to Chennai and Kanchipuram to arrest the founder of the Coldrif manufacturing firm.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued a nationwide directive urging strict adherence to the Drugs Rules, 1945. In a letter dated October 7, DCGI Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi warned of the importance of testing new materials—including excipients—before they enter pharmaceutical production.
The investigation continues as authorities aim to clarify the cause of the deaths, ensure safer drug manufacturing, and protect children throughout the country.
Source: aninews
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