Chhindwara: Police action has intensified in Chhindwara regarding the deaths of children from the toxic cough syrup Coldrif. Kundipura police arrested Ashirwad Medical Store operator Anil Mishra and pharmacist Ashok Mishra on Tuesday.
At the same time, the court rejected the bail applications of doctor couple Praveen and Jyoti Soni, already arrested in this case, and New Apna Pharma Agency stockist Rajesh Soni.
An investigation revealed that 4-year-old Ambika Vishwakarma, from Kakai village in the Kundipura police station area, died from the same toxic syrup sold without a prescription at Ashirwad Medical Store. Family members reported that the child was given Coldrif syrup (Batch no. SR-13), which caused her kidney failure.
Following the investigation, police arrested the operator, Anil Mishra (45), and his pharmacist uncle, Ashok Mishra (65). Both were produced in court on Wednesday. Police have registered a case under sections 105 (causing death by negligence) and 276 (illegal sale) of the BNSS 2023, as well as sections 27(a) and 27(d) (adulterated drug) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The bail application of already arrested Apna Medical Store operator Jyoti Soni and New Apna Pharma Agency stockist Rajesh Soni was heard in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Parasia Gautam Kumar Gujre on Tuesday.
AGP Durgesh Vishwakarma said that considering the seriousness of the case, the court rejected the bail applications of both. Earlier, Dr. Praveen Soni was also denied bail by the court and sent to jail.9 arrests so far
1. Ranganathan Govindan – Owner of Srisan Pharmaceuticals (Tamil Nadu), the company that manufactured the poisonous syrup
2. Maheshwari – Company employees involved in sample and document fraud
3. Dr. Praveen Soni – Arrested for prescribing poisonous syrup to children
4. Rajesh Soni – New Apna Pharma Agency Director
5. Saurabh Jain – Chemist associated with Apna Pharma
6. Satish Verma – Medical Representative (MR) of the company
7. Jyoti Soni – Owner of Apna Medical Store
8. Anil Mishra – Ashirwad Medical Store Operator
9. Ashok Mishra – Pharmacist at Ashirwad Medical Store
More than 26 children died, investigation underway
This toxic syrup has so far claimed the lives of more than 26 children in the state. A joint investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Drugs Department has revealed that several medical stores sold this syrup without a prescription. The investigation has also uncovered serious allegations such as commission networks, fraudulent billing, and the destruction of evidence.
Source : Bhaskar
