Cough syrup toll climbs; Doc held, TN firm booked

Police in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday arrested a doctor and filed a case against a Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical firm after multiple child deaths were linked to a toxic cough syrup, officials said.

- Shruti Tomar and Divya Chandrababu

The action came amid reports of more fatalities and fresh lab tests confirming dangerously high levels of industrial chemicals in the medicine.

Dr Praveen Soni, a paediatrician posted at the Civil Hospital in Parasia who also ran a private practice, was arrested late on Saturday for allegedly continuing to prescribe Coldrif — the cough syrup linked to at least 17 deaths in Madhya Pradesh and four in Rajasthan, officials said.

"Despite the death of a child on September 4, he continued prescribing the dangerous cough syrup to children, including those under four years of age, for whom the syrup was prohibited," said Dr Ankit Salam, Block Medical Officer.

Police have registered a case against Soni and syrup manufacturer Sresan Pharmaceuticals under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 276 (adulteration of drugs) and 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).

“The doctor has been booked for negligence and for prescribing the medicine despite knowing its adverse effects for nearly a month.

The manufacturer has been charged for supplying contaminated syrup," said Chhindwara Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey.