Owner of Pharma Firm Linked to 24 Child Deaths Arrested
G. Ranganathan, owner of Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, has been arrested in connection with the deaths of 24 children in Madhya Pradesh. The children died of kidney failure allegedly after consuming Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by his company, which was found to be contaminated with over 46% diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical. Ranganathan was arrested in Chennai by a Madhya Pradesh Special Investigation Team and has been remanded to 10-day police custody in Chhindwara.
Unpacked:
Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a toxic industrial chemical often used in antifreeze. It contaminated the Coldrif cough syrup because Sresan Pharmaceuticals used non-pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol, likely tainted with DEG, during manufacturing in unhygienic conditions without adequate quality control or purification procedures.
Before this incident, Sresan Pharmaceuticals had not faced active cases or formal actions from local drug controllers, though previous licensing issues existed with another product by the owner. The company's unsanitary conditions and lack of oversight were only formally documented during the recent investigation after the deaths.
Authorities have arrested Sresan’s owner, banned the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup in multiple states, and sealed the manufacturing unit. Investigations by central and state drug regulators are ongoing, and public health alerts have been issued in affected regions.
India and other countries have previously experienced cough syrup contamination incidents involving diethylene glycol, often due to poor regulation and quality control. Regulatory agencies have since tightened inspections, required pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, and increased monitoring, but gaps in enforcement remain, especially among small manufacturers.