Owner of Pharma Firm Linked to Child Deaths Arrested in Chennai
The owner of Sresan Pharma, the company that manufactured the toxic Coldrif cough syrup, has been arrested in Chennai. The arrest follows the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, allegedly after consuming the syrup. Laboratory tests confirmed the product contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical. The proprietor, Ranganathan Govindan, faces charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and adulteration of drugs.
Unpacked:
Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a toxic industrial solvent used in products like printing ink and glue. It was found at dangerously high levels in the Coldrif cough syrup, likely due to either intentional adulteration or gross manufacturing negligence, as laboratory tests detected up to 48% DEG in the syrup, far exceeding safe limits.
Yes, India has a history of fatal cough syrup poisonings linked to diethylene glycol contamination. Multiple past tragedies have occurred due to regulatory lapses and poor quality control, with each incident leading to temporary outrage but little systemic reform, allowing such events to recur.
Authorities arrested the owner, Ranganathan Govindan, suspended Sresan Pharma’s license, issued a stop-production order, and froze stock. The license is set for permanent revocation, and the facility has been sealed. Govindan faces charges including culpable homicide and adulteration of drugs.
Despite Sresan Pharma being struck off the official register, it continued operating, indicating a breakdown in regulatory monitoring. Inspections failed to detect unbilled DEG containers and severe safety lapses until after the deaths occurred, exposing weaknesses in enforcement and oversight.