As cough syrup deaths turn into game of shifting blame, Tamil Nadu minister says state’s ‘swift action’ helped prevent wider tragedy

According to Subramanian, Tamil Nadu’s Drugs Control Department launched an inspection on October 1, immediately after Madhya Pradesh authorities flagged concerns about the cough syrup. Subramanian said that while initial reports from both Madhya Pradesh and the Union Health Ministry “found no issues” with the syrup, “It was Tamil Nadu that detected the presence of DEG and confirmed the extent of contamination.”

Samples from batch number SR-13 of Coldrif syrup were collected at the company’s manufacturing unit in Kancheepuram district and tested at the Government Drugs Testing Laboratory in Chennai. The lab declared the samples “not of standard quality” and confirmed they were adulterated with DEG.

“Based on these findings, we immediately issued a Stop Production Order to the manufacturer on October 3. A closure order was also issued,” Subramanian said. Officials in Odisha and Puducherry were alerted to prevent further distribution of the contaminated batch.

Subramanian insisted that swift intervention by Tamil Nadu had averted a wider tragedy. “Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation does not procure this syrup, and following this incident, we have also halted its retail sales. The swift action taken by Tamil Nadu has helped prevent untoward incidents in many other states,” he said.

An FIR was lodged against Dr Praveen Soni.

He also said that the Centre and Madhya Pradesh governments had initially given the drug a clean chit. “…But we alerted them. We have also followed up on the case,” he said.

On the suspension of the drug inspectors, Subramanian said, “Two senior drug inspectors have been placed under suspension for failing to carry out quality checks and monitoring at the facility over the past two years.”

He said, “They did not inspect the manufacturing unit and initiate necessary steps to stop production in the unit. We have suspended them for this.”

They were identified as Deepa Joseph and K Karthikeyan, both of whom had previously served as senior drug inspectors in the Kancheepuram zone.

‘Critical and major’ lapses

A detailed inspection report, prepared by current drug inspectors P Nithin Kumar in Kancheepuram and R Sasikumar in Thiruvallur, painted a damning picture of Sresan Pharmaceuticals’ operations. The 44-page report identified 364 “critical and major” lapses across every stage of drug-making, from the sourcing of raw materials to manufacturing, testing, and packing. The company had purchased non-pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol, a key raw material, from two Chennai-based firms, Sunrise Biotech and Pandia Chemicals.

The plant’s owner, G Ranganathan, was arrested in the early hours on Thursday from Chennai by Madhya Pradesh Police. Tamil Nadu officials, meanwhile, sealed the premises.

“On October 7, a notice to initiate criminal proceedings was issued to the owner of the manufacturing facility. As he was unavailable to receive it, the notice was displayed at the premises. He was arrested,” minister Subramanian said.

“He will be taken to the manufacturing site by a tahsildar for an inquiry to determine how the contamination occurred. He will be asked to provide an explanation. Based on that, a decision on permanent closure of the facility and cancellation of its licence will be made in three days,” he said.