CHENNAI: G. Ranganathan, the 75-year-old owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals — the company behind the Coldrif cough syrup linked to the deaths of 21 children in Madhya Pradesh — was arrested late Wednesday night from his residence in Kodambakkam, Chennai.
A seven-member team from the Madhya Pradesh police, assisted by the Ashok Nagar police, took Ranganathan into custody around midnight. He is expected to be transported to Chhindwara district, the epicenter of the tragedy, after obtaining a transit remand. Authorities have also planned an inspection of Sresan’s manufacturing unit in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram.
Ranganathan faces serious charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration, and multiple violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Who is G. Ranganathan?
A pharmacy graduate from Madras Medical College, Ranganathan (73) built a career spanning over four decades. He first gained prominence in Chennai’s medical circles during the 1980s with “Pronit,” a nutritional syrup marketed primarily to pediatricians and pregnant women. Although it later drew scrutiny from regulators over ingredient licensing, he managed to obtain the required approvals and continued expanding his pharmaceutical ventures.
Ranganathan eventually founded Sresan Pharmaceuticals and was associated with Ceego Labs and Iven Healthcare. Industry peers regarded him as a mentor and active contributor to pharma networks in Tamil Nadu.
However, his reputation has now been overshadowed by the unfolding crisis. His 2,000 sq ft manufacturing unit on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway has been sealed, and the company’s Kodambakkam office has remained shut for days. Locals say staff were seen quietly moving out equipment and computers late at night last week.
Toxic Cough Syrup: What Went Wrong?
The Coldrif syrup manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals was found to be adulterated with diethylene glycol (DEG) — a highly toxic substance used in industrial products like antifreeze and brake fluid. Laboratory tests conducted in Tamil Nadu confirmed the presence of 48.6% DEG in Batch No. SR-13 (manufactured May 2025, expiry April 2027).
DEG ingestion can lead to acute kidney failure and death, especially in children.
The findings were submitted on October 4 by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drugs Control to the Madhya Pradesh government, which immediately banned Coldrif along with all other products made by Sresan Pharmaceuticals.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered drug inspectors to seize all Coldrif stocks, halt its sale and distribution, and collect samples from other batches for testing. The ban was extended to cover all Sresan-manufactured medicines.
The Tragedy Unfolds
The crisis came to light in late August when children in Parasia and nearby villages in Chhindwara began showing signs of sudden kidney failure after being treated for mild coughs and fevers. Most of the victims were under the age of five.
Initial investigations led to temporary suspensions of two local brands. However, detailed lab analysis from Tamil Nadu confirmed that the source of poisoning was the Coldrif syrup, manufactured over 1,000 km away.
The case has sparked nationwide concern about pharmaceutical regulation, quality control, and accountability within India’s drug manufacturing industry.
