Cough syrup deaths: ED conducts searches at seven locations in T.N. after arrest of Sresan Pharma proprietor

Officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting searches at seven locations in Tamil Nadu following the arrest of G. Ranganathan, proprietor of Sresan Pharma, in connection with the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh after consuming the company’s Coldrif cough syrup.

Ranganathan, 75, owner of the Kancheepuram-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, was arrested last week in Kodambakkam, Chennai, by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Madhya Pradesh on charges of manufacturing contaminated cough syrup that led to the deaths of 22 children in the State. Two more staff members of the firm were also arrested.

Ranganathan faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Tests conducted on Batch SR-13 by Tamil Nadu’s drug testing laboratory confirmed dangerous levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic organic compound, prompting the suspension of Sresan’s manufacturing licence and the sealing of its facility in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram.

The Tamil Nadu Health Department also suspended two senior drug inspectors — Deepa Joseph and K. Karthikeyan — for failing to inspect Sresan’s plant as required under the law.

Sources said the ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and has initiated an investigation. ED officers began searches at seven locations, including properties linked to key employees of Sresan Pharma and officials of the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department.

Searches are also being conducted at the residence of P.U. Karthikeyan, former Joint Director of Drugs Control, Food and Drug Administration, sources said.

In July last year, he was caught by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹25,000 from the proprietor of a soap factory in exchange for processing a permit application.