MP cough syrup deaths: 2-year-old's body exhumed for autopsy; SIT to probe pharma company

MP cough syrup deaths

Three more children died in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara on Sunday after consuming the deadly cough syrup, taking the toll to 14. Following this, MP Police arrested Dr. Praveen Soni, who prescribed Coldrif to many of the young victims, and charged him with “negligence causing death.”

According to a report by The Times of India, the police also exhumed the body of a two-year-old girl in Chhindwara for an autopsy, the first among the reported fatalities so far.

Later, a special investigation team (SIT) was constituted to probe the deaths. The team will visit Tamil Nadu to look into the operations of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of Coldrif.

On Saturday, the state government banned the sale of the syrup after a Tamil Nadu government report confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical, in samples of the cough syrup. All the children, majority of them four years and below, died of renal failure.

Drama in Chhindwara after doctor's arrest

Sunday morning witnessed high drama in Chhindwara after the police arrested pediatrician Dr Praveen Soni, a government doctor who also operates a private clinic in Parasia town, located in the coal belt of Chhindwara.

A FIR was registered early Sunday morning at Parasia police station against promoters of Sresan Pharmaceuticals and Dr Soni.

The FIR charged them with "negligence causing death" (Section 105 of BNS) and "adulterating of drugs" (Section 276). They were also slapped with Section 27(a) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which mentions that anyone manufacturing, selling, or distributing an adulterated or substandard drug that causes death or grievous harm is liable for imprisonment of up to 10 years.

The FIR followed a complaint filed by Parasia block medical officer Dr Ankit Sahlam. Dr Soni was sent to police custody.

Chhindwara SP Ajay Pandey was quoted by TOI as saying: "The accused doctor has been arrested. A SIT has been constituted to probe the case. The SIT will also visit Tamil Nadu. On Sunday, the body of a two-year-old girl, who died on Saturday, was exhumed with parental consent, and an autopsy was conducted. The report is awaited."

Parents seek action against culprits

The parents of the six children who died after being administered the cough syrup Coldrif have vowed to ensure the culprits are punished, the report added.

"I feel the firm owners are the real culprits. They must be punished," Yashin Khan, 36, from Chhindwara's Parasia, whose 4-year-old son, Usaid, died during treatment in Nagpur on September 13 of renal complications after taking Coldrif, was quoted by TOI as saying.

Khan's voice trembled as he spoke to TOI, but his demand was resolute: "All we ask from the govt is that the company be sealed so that no other parent suffers what we are going through."

Another grieving father, Rashid Bosham, 36, of Chakadhana village, lost his 14-month-old daughter, Sandhya, on October 1.

"I work as a labourer in Karnataka. When she fell ill, I was away, but when her condition deteriorated, I rushed home," he said, adding "Initially, she recovered, but then she stopped urinating and developed complications. We rushed her to Nagpur, where she passed away. All I want is for those truly responsible to be punished so that no parent faces what we are enduring."

A case was registered against Dr Soni and Sresan Pharmaceuticals under provisions of BNS and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Dr Soni has been arrested and suspended, while the company faces criminal charges for manufacturing the adulterated drug.