ED cracks down on Chennai-based firm behind poisonous cough syrup linked to 20 child deaths

ED raids Sresan Pharma in Chennai after 20 child deaths in MP & Rajasthan, WHO warns of “regulatory gaps” in India’s drug oversight

PGurus Newsdesk

October 13, 2025

ED Raids Chennai Pharma Firm After 20 Child Deaths

The toxic ‘Coldrif’ cough syrup tragedy deepens

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday launched raids at seven locations in Chennai connected to Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the toxic ‘Coldrif’ cough syrup, which has been blamed for the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

According to officials, the searches also include the residences of senior officials from Tamil Nadu’s drug control office, as the agency investigates possible lapses in regulation and corruption. The raids are part of a money laundering probe registered against the company under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Company owner arrested

The company’s owner, Ranganathan Govindan, was arrested last week and remanded to 10-day police custody. Investigations revealed that Sresan Pharmaceuticals’ plant in Tamil Nadu had over 350 violations, including 38 classified as serious, according to Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) officials.

Tests on samples of the ‘Coldrif’ syrup confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG) — a highly toxic industrial chemical that can cause acute kidney failure and has been linked to several mass poisoning incidents worldwide.

Regulatory failure under scrutiny

Licensed in 2011 by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (TNFDA), the Kanchipuram-based company reportedly continued operations for more than a decade despite poor infrastructure and repeated breaches of national drug safety norms.
Officials said the company’s license was renewed in 2016 by the TNFDA without CDSCO involvement, raising questions over the state regulator’s oversight.

In response, several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi, have now banned the sale and distribution of the Coldrif syrup. The Tamil Nadu government has ordered the closure of Sresan Pharmaceuticals and is considering permanent cancellation of its manufacturing license.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed serious concern over the deaths, warning of a “regulatory gap” in India’s domestic drug safety mechanisms.
“WHO expresses deep concern over these developments and emphasises the potential risk of contaminated products being exported to other countries, particularly via unregulated channels,” the organisation said in a statement.

It added that the lack of consistent screening for diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in medicines marketed domestically represents a critical gap in India’s pharmaceutical oversight.

WHO said it has reached out to the CDSCO for clarification and urged authorities to identify and remove any contaminated pharmaceutical materials still in circulation.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.