Licence Of 'Killer' Coldrif Cough Syrup's Makers To Be Cancelled, Death Toll In MP Rises To 22

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramaniam confirmed on Thursday that the licence of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, maker of Coldrif cough syrup, is set to be permanently revoked.

The licence is currently temporarily suspended as authorities carry out further inspections and investigations.

“The particular pharma company license will be permanently cancelled in a couple of days. It is now temporarily suspended.. After further investigation and inspection, the pharmaceutical company’s license will be permanently cancelled,” news agency ANI quoted Subramaniam as saying.

Chennai | On the Coldrif Cough Syrup tragedy in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramaniam says, “The particular pharma company license will be permanently cancelled in a couple

of days. It is now temporarily suspended.. After further investigation and inspection,… pic.twitter.com/Lacy8gvs5z

— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2025

The company’s owner, G Ranganathan, 75, was arrested at his Kodambakkam residence in Chennai earlier by a team from Madhya Pradesh police, with local assistance.

He will be taken to Chhindwara district—where most of the deaths occurred—after obtaining a transit remand.

Ranganathan faces charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

A police team is also set to inspect the company’s manufacturing facility in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram. Ranganathan, a pharmacy graduate from Madras Medical College, had a long career in pharmaceuticals, beginning with the popular nutritional syrup Pronit before expanding into other liquid medicines.

However, his 2,000 sq ft manufacturing unit along the Chennai–Bengaluru highway was found to have major safety lapses and has since been sealed.

Meanwhile, two more children from Madhya Pradesh have succumbed to kidney infections caused by the consumption of a “contaminated” cough syrup, taking the death toll to 22, an official said on Thursday.

Five-year-old Vishal died on Wednesday evening, and Mayank Suryavanshi, aged 4, succumbed late at night while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nagpur in neighbouring Maharashtra, Chhindwara’s Additional Collector Dhirendra Singh Netri said.

The Madhya Pradesh Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the deaths.

(With inputs from agencies)