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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsG Ranganathan, owner of Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police in Chennai early on October 9, 2025, in connection with child deaths linked to Coldrif cough syrup, The Indian Express reported. The arrest was an investigative step, not a finding of guilt. Later government reporting described toxic diethylene glycol in an implicated batch and regulatory action against the manufacturer.
What was reported about the arrest?
The Indian Express reported that a Madhya Pradesh Police team arrested Ranganathan, described as 75, at his Chennai residence early Thursday, October 9, 2025. The report connected the arrest to child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan linked to Coldrif. An arrest and the allegations behind it do not establish criminal responsibility; the reviewed reporting does not establish a final court outcome.
What did testing report about Coldrif?
The Government of India’s answer to Rajya Sabha Question 291 reported that Coldrif batch SR-13 contained 46.28% w/v diethylene glycol (DEG). Separately, The Indian Express quoted a Government Analyst report giving a result of 48.6% w/v DEG in its tested sample. These are distinct results reported through different sources; the available accounts do not reconcile them, so they should not be treated as a single confirmed figure.
The newspaper quoted the analyst’s conclusion that the sample was adulterated because it contained poisonous DEG that “may render the contents injurious to health.” This wording is from the report as reproduced by The Indian Express.
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- ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: This product contains dextromethorphan HBr and guaifenesin which compare to the active ingredients in Robitussin Cough Plus Chest Congestion DM
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The government’s parliamentary answer also said a central team collected 19 drug samples reportedly consumed by affected children: 15 were found to be of standard quality and four were declared not of standard quality. Those totals describe the samples in that investigation, not all Coldrif products or all batches.
What action did regulators take?
The government reported critical and major Good Manufacturing Practices violations at the manufacturer, including unhygienic storage. In its answer to Rajya Sabha Question 291, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated: “The State Drugs Controller, Tamil Nadu cancelled the manufacturing licence.” The same answer said Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Puducherry ordered bans and recalls of the implicated batches.
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What was the wider government response?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported a paediatric cough-syrup advisory dated October 3, 2025, directions to regulators on testing and vigilance, audits of more than 700 cough syrup manufacturers, and a requirement for finished oral-liquid products to be tested for DEG and ethylene glycol. These are measures described by the government; the cited answer does not establish their later implementation or results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the court proceedings?
The Economic Times, citing PTI, reported that on October 20, 2025, a court remanded Ranganathan to judicial custody after an earlier 10-day police-custody remand. That is a dated procedural update, not confirmation of his current custody status or the case’s final disposition. The reviewed reporting does not establish a final death toll across all jurisdictions.
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- ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: This cough medicine contains dextromethorphan HBr (a cough suppressant) and guaifenesin (an expectorant) which compare to the active ingredients in Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough and Chest Congestion DM
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- COUGH SUPPRESSANT: This cough syrup helps to control your cough; temporarily relieves cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation as may occur with a cold
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Sources
- The Indian Express: report on the arrest
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: answer to Rajya Sabha Question 291
- The Indian Express: report quoting the Government Analyst result
- The Economic Times: October 20 custody report, citing PTI
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