In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into contaminated cough syrups linked to child fatalities, authorities have taken into custody the owner of a pharmaceuticals firm responsible for producing Coldrif, a product at the center of the controversy. The detention, announced by police on Wednesday, marks a pivotal step in efforts to hold accountable those involved in the lapses that led to the heartbreaking deaths of several children across multiple states.
The entrepreneur, identified as the proprietor of Sahkar Pharmaceuticals based in Ambala, Haryana, was apprehended late Tuesday evening during a raid at the company’s premises. According to a senior officer with the Haryana Police, the operation was prompted by mounting evidence of regulatory violations and substandard manufacturing practices at the facility. “We acted on intelligence indicating potential tampering and non-compliance with quality standards,” the officer stated, emphasizing that the probe remains active with forensic analysis underway.
This action follows a string of similar incidents that have rocked India’s pharmaceutical sector in recent years. Coldrif cough syrup, marketed primarily for pediatric use, has been implicated in at least 12 child deaths reported in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana over the past three months. Preliminary tests conducted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) revealed dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol—a toxic solvent often substituted for the costlier propylene glycol—in batches of the syrup distributed nationwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier issued an alert in August, classifying the product as a high-risk item and urging a global recall.
The Haryana Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had already suspended the company’s manufacturing license in September after surprise inspections uncovered discrepancies in documentation and inadequate testing protocols. Officials from the agency noted that Sahkar Pharmaceuticals failed to submit required batch certificates, a critical oversight that allowed the tainted product to reach pharmacies and households. “This is not just a manufacturing error; it’s a systemic failure that demands swift justice,” remarked a spokesperson for the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), an industry body that has called for stricter oversight.
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Eyewitness accounts from the raid described a tense scene, with investigators seizing documents, samples, and computer records from the factory. The detained owner, who could not be reached for comment, is expected to appear in court shortly for remand proceedings. Sources within the investigation told NDTV that interrogations will focus on the supply chain, including raw material sourcing and quality assurance processes.
The tragedy echoes the 2022 Gambia scandal, where Indian-made cough syrups contaminated with the same chemical killed over 70 children, prompting international scrutiny and reforms in export guidelines. In response, the Indian government has ramped up surveillance, with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directing all state drug controllers to expedite sample testing. As of now, over 50 batches of pediatric formulations from various makers are under review.
Public outrage has been palpable, with parents of the affected children demanding compensation and transparency. “No parent should endure this nightmare,” said one grieving father from Jammu, whose 4-year-old succumbed last month. Advocacy groups like the Consumer Protection Forum have petitioned the Supreme Court for a nationwide audit of small-scale pharma units.
While the detention provides some solace to grieving families, experts caution that it is merely the beginning. “Rooting out contamination requires overhauling enforcement, not just punitive measures,” opined Dr. Vinod Kumar, a pharmacologist at AIIMS, New Delhi. The CDSCO has assured that enhanced pharmacovigilance will prevent future lapses, but trust in over-the-counter remedies remains shaken.
As the case unfolds, it underscores the urgent need for vigilance in an industry vital to public health. With more arrests anticipated, the spotlight intensifies on ensuring that children’s medications are beyond reproach.
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