CHENNAI/BHOPAL/NAGPUR: The adulterated cough syrup death toll rose to 23 after two more children died of renal failure Thursday, while police arrested Govindan Ranganathan (75), the owner of Tamil Nadubased Sresan Pharmaceuticals, which manufactured the Coldrif medicine.
The latest victims — Garvik Pawar and Mayank Suryawanshi, both between one and two years old and residents of Umreth tehsil in MP’s Chhindwara district — died at GMCH in Nagpur.
Doctors said they had suffered acute kidney failure and brain damage after taking the syrup laced with DEG, an industrial solvent used in brake fluids. Chhindwara accounts for 20 deaths, all recorded within 45 days. Ten children died at GMCH Nagpur, others in nearby hospitals.
The deaths sparked a political blamegame. While MP CM Mohan Yadav said TN govt should explain how it renewed the licence of Sersan, TN health minister Ma Subramanian said, “Centre and MP govt had cleared the drug, but we alerted them.”
Ranganathan was arrested from his residence in Chennai by a seven-member MP SIT. His manager Jayaraman and lab assistant Maheswari were also picked up. All three were presented before a Chennai court, which issued a transit warrant for their transfer to Chhindwara.
Police have seized 589 bottles of Coldrif syrup in Chhindwara and 1,534 bottles statewide. Tests of Batch SR-13 by Tamil Nadu’s drug control laboratory confirmed dangerous levels of DEG, prompting suspension of Sresan’s manufacturing licence and sealing of its facility at Sunguvarchatram in TN’s Kanchipuram district.
SIT had been camping in TN for days. Ranganathan was onthe run with his wife since the tragedy broke. He carried a Rs 20,000 reward. He faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
TN health minister Ma Subramanian said the state found the presence of DEG and ordered criminal action against the firm. “Centre and MP govt had cleared the drug, but we alerted them. We will permanently close the unit within days,” he said. The minister also suspended two senior drug inspectors — Deepa Joseph and K Karthikeyan — for failing to inspect Sresan’s plant as required under law.
The latest victims — Garvik Pawar and Mayank Suryawanshi, both between one and two years old and residents of Umreth tehsil in MP’s Chhindwara district — died at GMCH in Nagpur.
Doctors said they had suffered acute kidney failure and brain damage after taking the syrup laced with DEG, an industrial solvent used in brake fluids. Chhindwara accounts for 20 deaths, all recorded within 45 days. Ten children died at GMCH Nagpur, others in nearby hospitals.
The deaths sparked a political blamegame. While MP CM Mohan Yadav said TN govt should explain how it renewed the licence of Sersan, TN health minister Ma Subramanian said, “Centre and MP govt had cleared the drug, but we alerted them.”
Ranganathan was arrested from his residence in Chennai by a seven-member MP SIT. His manager Jayaraman and lab assistant Maheswari were also picked up. All three were presented before a Chennai court, which issued a transit warrant for their transfer to Chhindwara.
Police have seized 589 bottles of Coldrif syrup in Chhindwara and 1,534 bottles statewide. Tests of Batch SR-13 by Tamil Nadu’s drug control laboratory confirmed dangerous levels of DEG, prompting suspension of Sresan’s manufacturing licence and sealing of its facility at Sunguvarchatram in TN’s Kanchipuram district.
SIT had been camping in TN for days. Ranganathan was onthe run with his wife since the tragedy broke. He carried a Rs 20,000 reward. He faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
TN health minister Ma Subramanian said the state found the presence of DEG and ordered criminal action against the firm. “Centre and MP govt had cleared the drug, but we alerted them. We will permanently close the unit within days,” he said. The minister also suspended two senior drug inspectors — Deepa Joseph and K Karthikeyan — for failing to inspect Sresan’s plant as required under law.
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