Tamil Nadu Revokes Licence of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Orders Shutdown After Toxic Cough Syrup Deaths

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday revoked the manufacturing licence of Kanchipuram-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals and ordered the company’s immediate closure following a damning investigation into its adulterated cough syrup, Coldrif, which has been linked to the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh.

The action follows lab tests that confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG) — a toxic chemical historically linked to multiple mass poisoning incidents — in the cough syrup.

How the Coldrif Controversy Unfolded

Early October 2025:
Madhya Pradesh health authorities report the deaths of several children, initially traced to a contaminated batch of Coldrif, a cough syrup marketed by Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Samples are sent for laboratory testing.

October 5–7:
Tests by Tamil Nadu’s Drug Control Department confirm 48.6% diethylene glycol content in the samples — far above permissible limits. Several states impose bans on the product, while the Centre issues an advisory urging doctors not to prescribe cough syrups to children under two years of age.

October 8–10:
A surprise inspection at the company’s Kanchipuram facility uncovers over 300 violations of Good Manufacturing and Laboratory Practices (GMP and GLP), including poor hygiene, falsified records, and lack of quality checks.

October 11:
Madhya Pradesh police arrest Raja Ranganathan, owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, on charges of culpable homicide and violations of drug safety laws. His arrest follows a ₹20,000 reward announced by the state government for information leading to his capture.

October 13:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducts raids at Sresan’s offices and related properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), probing possible financial irregularities tied to the sale and distribution of the adulterated drugs.

Following the investigation, the Tamil Nadu government revoked the company’s drug manufacturing licence and ordered its immediate shutdown.

A state government statement said directives have also been issued for a comprehensive review of all pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu to prevent similar incidents in the future.