Chennai– In a major escalation of the probe into the tragic Coldrif cough syrup deaths, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today conducted coordinated raids on seven locations in Chennai, targeting the residences and premises linked to Sresan Pharma’s owners and senior officials from the Tamil Nadu drug control department. The operation, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), aims to uncover financial irregularities and potential corruption that allowed the contaminated syrup to reach vulnerable children across India. (Video)
The raids come just days after the arrest of Sresan Pharma’s owner, G. Ranganathan (also known as S. Ranganathan), by Madhya Pradesh Police on October 9. Ranganathan, whose Kanchipuram-based firm was licensed by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (TN FDA) in 2011, is accused of overseeing the production of the adulterated Coldrif syrup, which contained lethal levels of diethylene glycol (DEG)—a toxic industrial solvent masquerading as a cheap alternative to safer ingredients.
At least 20 children, most under the age of five, have succumbed to acute kidney failure after consuming the syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The scandal has exposed glaring regulatory failures, with investigations revealing over 300 quality violations at Sresan Pharma’s facility, including substandard infrastructure and ignored safety protocols, as flagged by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Despite these red flags, the company operated unchecked for more than a decade, prompting sharp criticism of the TN FDA’s oversight.
ED teams, armed with search warrants, descended on the homes of top drug control officials in Chennai early Monday morning. Sources indicate that financial records, documents related to licensing approvals, and electronic devices were seized to trace any illicit funds or bribes that may have greased the wheels of regulatory leniency. No arrests were made during the raids, but officials confirmed the searches are part of a broader money laundering inquiry tied directly to the deaths.
The Coldrif case has ignited a firestorm of political backlash. Tamil Nadu BJP leader K. Annamalai lambasted the state government, accusing it of complicity through “criminal negligence.” In a scathing post on X, Annamalai questioned how drug inspectors, who reportedly skipped mandatory training on detecting toxins like DEG, were allowed to certify such facilities. “Suspending a few officials is a mere eyewash; the entire system reeks of rot,” he stated, calling for a complete overhaul. He also highlighted upcoming central government reforms, including mandatory post-production testing for drugs to prevent future tragedies.
As the death toll climbs and families in affected regions like Chhindwara demand justice, the ED’s actions signal a deepening crackdown. Investigators are now piecing together how Sresan Pharma evaded scrutiny, with early leads pointing to cozy ties between the firm and state regulators. The case underscores the perils of lax drug enforcement in India, where substandard medicines claim hundreds of lives annually, often the youngest and most defenseless.
Authorities have urged the public to report any adverse reactions to Coldrif or similar over-the-counter syrups, while batches of the product have been recalled nationwide. The probe continues, with more raids anticipated as the web of accountability widens.
