Bhopal– The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the deadly Coldrif cough syrup scandal in Madhya Pradesh achieved a dual breakthrough today, arresting a chemical analyst from Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu for allegedly falsifying quality tests, while prime suspect Ranganathan Govindan disclosed two or three additional accomplices during intense interrogations in Chhindwara. The revelations come amid fresh arrests, pushing the total to four, as the probe uncovers a web of corruption linking doctors, stockists, and manufacturers responsible for at least 23 child deaths from acute kidney failure in Chhindwara and adjoining districts.
The SIT, constituted by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in response to widespread outrage, ramped up scrutiny of manufacturing documents at Sresan Pharma’s Chhindwara-linked operations on October 15. Ranganathan Govindan, the Tamil Nadu-based owner of the firm arrested on October 11, cracked under questioning and named two or three more individuals tied to the supply chain, including potential distributors and lab insiders. An SIT squad was promptly sent to Chennai for raids and evidence collection, building on Tuesday’s search of the manufacturing unit where fresh documents were seized. Chhindwara SP Ajay Pandey confirmed: “Our team took Ranganathan back to Tamil Nadu and gathered critical evidence; more arrests are imminent.”
In a parallel high-stakes operation, the SIT apprehended an unnamed chemical analyst from Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, accused of manipulating lab reports to approve toxic batches laced with industrial solvents. Tracked via digital surveillance, the analyst is en route to Bhopal for grilling. This follows two fresh arrests on October 14, as reported by The New Indian Express: Rajesh Soni, prime stockist in Parasia town and relative of suspect Vinod Soni, and Saurabh Jain, pharmacist at Apna Medical Store—where grieving parents purchased the ₹24.54-per-bottle syrup. Earlier, on October 4, Dr. Pravin Soni, a prominent government paediatrician at Parasia Civil Hospital, was nabbed for illegally prescribing the banned fixed-dose combination (FDC) syrup to children under four, violating CDSCO guidelines. Times of India revealed unverified claims that Dr. Soni allegedly pocketed a 10% commission per bottle, with the manager of Sresan Pharma’s local unit now detained for questioning on similar kickback links.
The scandal, registered under NDPS Act, IPC for culpable homicide, and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, has contaminated over 10,000 bottles worth ₹15 lakh, forensic-linked to 23 deaths—mostly children under 10—in Chhindwara and adjoining districts. Political firestorm erupted over a condolence meet organized by former CM Kamal Nath on October 14 to honor the victims, drawing fierce BJP backlash. Times of India reported state BJP chief VD Sharma accusing Nath of “crocodile tears and vote-bank politics,” while CM Mohan Yadav vowed “zero tolerance for poison peddlers profiting from our children’s lives.” Nath defended the event as a “humanitarian gesture,” but opposition leaders demanded a CBI probe into alleged Congress ties with pharma lobbies.
Health Minister JP Nadda ordered statewide lab audits, ₹50 crore victim compensation, and banned FDC syrup sales to under-twos. Echoing Uzbekistan’s 2023 tragedy, experts warn of a ₹500 crore black market. SIT targets a November chargesheet; parents urged to scan syrups via CDSCO apps and report to 112. “This is murder for margins—no one escapes,” affirmed SIT head IPS Ravindra Kumar, as interstate hunts intensify.
