Sresan Pharma Owner S Ranganathan Arrested In Tamil Nadu Over Children's Deaths Linked To Coldrif Syrup

S. Ranganathan, the owner of Sresan Pharma, was arrested late last night on Wednesday in connection with the deaths of 20 children linked to the consumption of Coldrif Syrup-a locally sold cough medicine now confirmed to contain lethal levels of diethylene glycol (DEG).

Seventeen children died in Chhindwara district, two in Betul, and one in Pandhurna. Five more remain in critical condition. Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Rajendra Shukla confirmed the fatalities, while additional cases have surfaced in Rajasthan, where children reportedly suffered kidney infections after consuming the syrup.

Coldrif Syrup, intended to ease cold symptoms like sore throat and runny nose, was found to contain nearly 500 times the permissible limit of diethylene glycol-a toxic industrial chemical used in printing ink and adhesives. Going by the findings from Tamil Nadu's Drug Control Department, the syrup contained a staggering 48.6% DEG. The legal limit is 0.1%.

An inspection at Sresan Pharma's facility in Kancheepuram uncovered unbilled containers of DEG and confirmed that the company had been blending 46-48% of the toxic substance into its syrup. Shockingly, the manufacturer lacked even a basic Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification, yet continued to produce and distribute generic drugs.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian has said that the government had issued a second notice to Sresan Pharma, demanding justification for why criminal action should not be pursued. Authorities have already frozen the company's stock, suspended its license, and issued a stop-production order.

After weeks of searching, police finally apprehended Ranganathan, who had been evading arrest despite a ₹20,000 bounty on his head. His capture marks a turning point in the investigation, which has now expanded across multiple states.

At least nine states have banned Coldrif Syrup following the revelations. The drug, once a common remedy for children's coughs, is now a symbol of regulatory failure and corporate negligence.