A seven-member police team from Madhya Pradesh has arrested G Ranganathan, the 75-year-old owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Chennai, in connection with the manufacture of toxic Coldrif cough syrup linked to the deaths of 21 children across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The arrest, carried out at 12:30 am on October 9, 2025, from his residence in Kodambakkam, follows lab confirmation that the syrup contained 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG), a lethal industrial solvent, rendering it “not of standard quality” and injurious to health.
Authorities have banned Coldrif nationwide, suspended multiple drug inspectors, and arrested a doctor for prescribing the contaminated medicine, while the Madhya Pradesh government has offered ₹4 lakh compensation to each victim’s family. The case has triggered a nationwide outcry for stricter pharmaceutical regulation and accountability.
The Arrest and Immediate Aftermath
Deputy Superintendent of Police Jitendra Jaat led the seven-member Madhya Pradesh Police team that apprehended G Ranganathan from his apartment in the Ashok Nagar police station limits. After his arrest, he was transported to Kancheepuram district, where his company, Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, is based, as part of an ongoing investigation.
The Government Analyst at the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai confirmed the syrup’s contamination, stating it was “adulterated” and contained DEG levels nearly 500 times above the permissible limit of 0.1%.
In response, authorities across multiple states, including Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, have ordered the immediate stoppage of Coldrif’s sale and distribution to prevent further harm. The swift action followed mounting public pressure after children in Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna districts began succumbing to acute kidney failure after consuming the syrup.
The Human Tragedy and Systemic Failures
The death toll has risen to 21, with 18 children losing their lives in Chhindwara alone, most under the age of five. Families recount administering the syrup as prescribed, only to watch their children fall critically ill within days. One survivor, Pratik Pawar, is undergoing treatment for kidney failure in Nagpur, highlighting the irreversible damage caused by the toxin.
The tragedy has exposed deep regulatory lapses, with two drug inspectors and a deputy FDA director in Madhya Pradesh suspended for negligence. Dr. Praveen Soni of Chhindwara was also arrested for allegedly prescribing Coldrif despite safety concerns.
Ranganathan, a pharmacy graduate from Madras Medical College, had operated Sresan Pharmaceuticals for over a decade in a 2,000 sq ft facility with outdated, rusted equipment, conditions that went unchecked for years. The company’s failure to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) allowed deadly contamination to go undetected until it was too late.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Behind every statistic is a child who will never laugh, grow, or dream. The Coldrif tragedy is not just a crime of negligence, it is a betrayal of public trust by those meant to safeguard health. When a cough syrup becomes a death sentence, it reveals a system where profit is prioritised over lives, and oversight is reduced to paperwork.
Ranganathan’s arrest is a step toward justice, but it cannot restore the 21 young lives lost to greed and complacency. We must demand transparency in drug manufacturing, empower regulatory bodies with real authority, and ensure that no family has to question the safety of a prescribed medicine.
