DID Press: Indian police have filed a criminal case against the pharmaceutical company Sresan Pharma, whose cough syrup has been linked to the deaths of 10 children. Laboratory tests revealed that the syrup contained dangerously high levels of the toxic chemical diethylene glycol.
According to Drug Laboratory Report of Madhya Pradesh state, samples of the Coldrif syrup contained about 46.28% diethylene glycol, while the permissible limit is only 0.1%. This level is far beyond safety standards and can cause severe poisoning and death.
In connection with the case, police have arrested not only the manufacturer in Tamil Nadu state but also a local doctor who prescribed the medicine. Rajendra Shukla, the state’s deputy chief minister, confirmed the arrests in an interview with news agency ANI.
The company faces charges including manslaughter (negligent homicide), fraud, drug contamination, and violations of India’s Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The Indian Ministry of Health has also announced regulatory action against one of the company’s production units, and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has requested the revocation of its manufacturing license.
India, known as the “Pharmacy of the World,” has recently come under international scrutiny due to the poor quality of some exported medicines — including cough syrups linked to child deaths in Gambia, Cameroon, and Uzbekistan.
If convicted, the company’s executives may face heavy fines and life imprisonment.