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 reported.
Coldrif cough syrup-related deaths | “The Sresan Pharmaceutical company`s manufacturing licenses have been revoked, and the company has been shut down as of October 13, 2025.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 their…
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2025
The state health department confirmed the development, stating the company has been officially shut down following an investigation which revealed the presence of toxic contaminants — specifically Diethylene Glycol (DEG) — in Coldrif.
The department has also ordered thorough inspections across all pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu, ANI reported.
Accordingly, large-scale inspections are currently underway throughout the state.
The 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 10-day police custody by a Parasia court.
Furthermore, 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 state.
Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Annamalai criticised the Tamil Nadu Government’s 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 accountability.
“A 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 approval,” he said.
He also highlighted the company’s history of quality violations and criticised the lack of proper inspections by Tamil Nadu’s drug inspectors.
Meanwhile, 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 products.
Earlier 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 said.
Multiple ED teams from the Chennai Zonal Office conducted simultaneous raids based on specific intelligence inputs, they further informed.
“The searches are underway at the premises that include the residences of senior officials of the Tamil Nadu Drug Control Office,” said officials.
The agency is investigating financial transactions and the suspected proceeds of crime linked to the production and distribution of the adulterated medicine.
The 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 “not of standard quality”, according to an official order.
The order issued on October 10 noted: “Coldrif Syrup (Paracetamol, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup), manufactured in May 2025 by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Tamil Nadu, was found to contain Diethylene Glycol (46.28% w/v), a toxic chemical known to be hazardous to human health.”
All 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 stated.
(With ANI inputs)