Cough syrup row: G Ranganathan, owner of pharma company that supplied 'poisonous' Coldrif, arrested; MP toll rises to 21

CHENNAI: The owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Coldrif cough syrup, has been arrested in Kodambakkam, Chennai, in connection with the deaths of at least 21 children in Madhya Pradesh.

G. Ranganathan, 75, was taken into custody at his Kodambakkam residence around midnight by a seven-member team from the Madhya Pradesh police, assisted by Ashok Nagar police. He is expected to be taken to Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, where most of the deaths occurred, after securing transit remand.


Meanwhile, the police team will also inspect the company’s manufacturing facility in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram, later in the evening.

Ranganathan has been booked under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Who is G Ranganathan?

Ranganathan, 73, a pharmacy graduate from Madras Medical College, built his career over more than four decades, initially gaining recognition for Pronit, a nutritional syrup that was widely used in Chennai.

In the early 1980s, Ranganathan personally promoted Pronit to paediatricians, highlighting its benefits for pregnant women.

The product gained popularity but was later flagged by the state drug control department for requiring government approval, as some of its ingredients necessitated licensing.

Read also: Inside 2,000sqft Coldrif plant: Rusty, leaking equipment ignored for 14 years; deadly lapses under G Ranganathan

Ranganathan subsequently obtained the necessary approvals and continued his business, later expanding into liquid nasal products and establishing multiple small manufacturing units around Chennai.

Over the years, he came to head Sresan Pharmaceuticals and maintained ties with Ceego Labs, while his associates managed Iven Healthcare.

Industry insiders noted his reputation for mentoring young entrepreneurs and remaining active in professional circles until recently.

However, this image contrasts sharply with recent developments.

His 2,000 sq ft manufacturing unit along the Chennai-Bengaluru highway has been sealed, and his registered office in Kodambakkam remains locked.

Neighbours reported that the office, once bustling with visitors, was cleared out last week, with employees moving equipment and computers late at night.

'Poisonous cough syrup'

Laboratory tests in Tamil Nadu confirmed that the Coldrif cough syrup contained harmful substances, prompting the Madhya Pradesh government to ban the sale of the product along with all other medicines produced by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer.

The confirmation came in a report from the Director of Drugs Control, Tamil Nadu, submitted to the Madhya Pradesh government on 4 October.

The report identified Coldrif syrup (Batch No. SR-13, manufactured May 2025, expiring April 2027) as “Not of Standard Quality” and adulterated, containing 48.6% diethylene glycol — a toxic chemical commonly used in antifreeze and brake fluids, which can cause acute kidney failure and death if ingested.

Following the report, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered an immediate ban on the sale, distribution, and stock of Coldrif syrup across the state.

The ban was extended to all products manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) issued urgent instructions to drug inspectors to seize existing stocks, halt further sales, and collect samples from other batches for testing.

Inspectors were directed to freeze all Coldrif syrup found in the market and ensure that none remained available for sale or distribution.

The directive also included a halt on the sale of all Sresan-manufactured products and the collection of legal samples for laboratory analysis.

The tragedy first came to light in late August when several children in Parasia and nearby villages in Chhindwara developed sudden kidney failure after treatment for mild fever and cough.

Most victims were under five years old.

Initial investigations temporarily banned two local brands as a precaution, but Tamil Nadu’s lab results confirmed that the source of the poisoning was Coldrif syrup manufactured over 1,000 km away.