Ranganathan, owner of Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police in Chennai late Wednesday night (October 8) in connection with the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh after consuming a toxic cough syrup produced by his company. Authorities had announced a ₹20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
The deaths have been linked to Coldrif, a pediatric cough syrup also associated with child fatalities in Rajasthan. Victims reportedly suffered severe kidney complications after ingesting the syrup. Investigations revealed that Coldrif, intended to relieve cold symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat, was contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical used in adhesives and inks, which can severely damage the kidneys, liver, and nervous system.
Chhindwara SP Ajay Pandey said, “Sresan Pharma owner S. Ranganathan was arrested last night. He will be presented before a Chennai court and then brought to Chhindwara after securing transit remand.”
A probe by the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Authority found major violations at Sresan Pharma’s Kancheepuram factory. DEG was reportedly present at dangerously high levels — up to 48%, far above the permissible 0.1%. The plant also lacked Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification yet continued to produce and distribute medicines.
Following the findings, Tamil Nadu authorities halted all production, suspended Sresan Pharma’s license, issued a show-cause notice, and seized the company’s entire stock. At least nine Indian states have banned the sale of Coldrif. Meanwhile, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) highlighted widespread lapses in manufacturing oversight, noting that several pharmaceutical units had failed to perform quality checks on raw materials and active ingredients.