Tamil Nadu cancels licence of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, shuts down company

The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department on Monday announced the cancellation of the manufacturing licence of Sresan Pharmaceuticals the company that produced Coldrif cough syrup which has been linked to the deaths of at least 22 children in Madhya Pradeshm news agency ANI reportedColdrif cough syruprelated deaths The Sresan Pharmaceutical companys manufacturing licenses have been revoked and the company has been shut down as of October 13 2025 This action follows the detection of toxic contaminants specifically Diethylene Glycol DEG in theirhellipmdash ANI ANI October 13 2025The state health department confirmed the development stating the company has been officially shut down following an investigation which revealed the presence of toxic contaminants mdash specifically Diethylene Glycol DEG mdash in ColdrifThe department has also ordered thorough inspections across all pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu ANI reportedAccordingly largescale inspections are currently underway throughout the stateThe owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals Ranganathan was arrested on Chennai by a Special Investigation Team SIT from Madhya Pradesh on October 9 He has since been remanded in 10day police custody by a Parasia courtFurthermore two senior drug inspectors have been suspended for dereliction of duty reported ANI The Tamil Nadu Government has directed comprehensive inspections of all other pharmaceutical manufacturing units in the stateEarlier Bharatiya Janata Party BJP leader K Annamalai criticised the Tamil Nadu Governmentrsquos handling of the issue He pointed out that the state had suspended only two drug inspectors and alleged that the government was attempting to distance itself from accountabilityldquoA drug manufactured by a private pharmaceutical company in Kanchipuram has reportedly caused the deaths of 23 people in Madhya Pradesh and three children in Rajasthan However the Tamil Nadu government has suspended only two drug inspectors and is trying to create an illusion that it has no connection or responsibility in this matter Yesterday the Drugs Controller General of India DCGI took an important decision This time the agency has decided that every medicine produced in India must undergo mandatory testing before approvalrdquo he saidHe also highlighted the companyrsquos history of quality violations and criticised the lack of proper inspections by Tamil Nadursquos drug inspectorsMeanwhile the Drugs Controller General of India DCGI has issued a directive to all states and Union Territories to ensure strict compliance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945 particularly concerning the testing of raw materials and finished pharmaceutical productsEarlier in the day the Enforcement Directorate ED had carried out searches at seven different locations in Chennai connected to the Sresan Pharma case under money laundering charges related to the Coldrif cough syrup deaths officers saidMultiple ED teams from the Chennai Zonal Office conducted simultaneous raids based on specific intelligence inputs they further informedldquoThe searches are underway at the premises that include the residences of senior officials of the Tamil Nadu Drug Control Officerdquo said officialsThe agency is investigating financial transactions and the suspected proceeds of crime linked to the production and distribution of the adulterated medicineThe deaths linked to toxic cough syrups have triggered national concern Following this the Delhi government banned the sale purchase and distribution of Coldrif syrup after it was declared ldquonot of standard qualityrdquo according to an official orderThe order issued on October 10 noted ldquoColdrif Syrup Paracetamol Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup manufactured in May 2025 by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Tamil Nadu was found to contain Diethylene Glycol 462837 wv a toxic chemical known to be hazardous to human healthrdquoAll stakeholders were directed to immediately halt the sale purchase and distribution of the said batch The public has also been strongly advised not to consume the product due to its potential health risks the order statedWith ANI inputs