In a chilling revelation from the investigation into the tragic deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, authorities have accused a local pediatrician of receiving a 10% commission from the manufacturer of a contaminated cough syrup linked to the fatalities. The disclosure came during a bail hearing in a sessions court, where police detailed the doctor’s alleged financial ties to the very company whose product proved deadly.
Dr. Praveen Soni, arrested in connection with the case, faces scrutiny for prescribing Coldrif syrup produced by Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, a Tamil Nadu-based firm. According to the police report submitted to Additional Sessions Judge Gautam Kumar Gujar in Parasia, Soni continued recommending the medication despite a December 2023 directive from the Directorate General of Health Services under the Government of India. That guideline explicitly barred Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) like Coldrif for children under four years old.
The probe alleges that Soni’s prescriptions led to severe health complications, including urine retention and kidney failure, among young patients. “Fifteen children have died so far under his treatment,” the report states bluntly, attributing the outcome to the syrup’s adulteration with toxic Diethylene Glycol. Even after awareness of these risks, Soni allegedly profited from his endorsements, pocketing a 10% cut from Sresan for each Coldrif prescription.
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The fallout has rippled beyond Soni. On Monday, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the shutdown of Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer and revoked its license amid the scandal. Separately, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on premises connected to the company in Chennai. Investigators are now zeroing in on Soni’s family, noting that a medical store next to his private clinic is owned by relatives, while a local stockist for the tainted syrup is also a family member.
Defending his client, advocate Pawan Kumar Shukla argued before the court that Soni, a government doctor with 35 to 40 years of experience, simply prescribed treatments as part of routine care. “The contaminated batch was the company’s fault, of which he had no knowledge,” Shukla contended. “Ensuring drug quality falls to the Drug Controller Department.” The court, however, rejected bail on October 8, citing Soni’s apparent disregard for the safety directive and the potential for child endangerment.
The First Information Report (FIR), filed on October 4 against Soni, Sresan’s directors, and a Jabalpur-based wholesaler, was initiated by Parasia block medical officer Dr. Ankit Sehlam. It outlined how children under five, treated for routine ailments like coughs and fevers at the Government Community Health Centre where Soni served as pediatrician, suffered dire consequences after ingesting the syrup. Symptoms escalated rapidly—difficulty urinating, spiked creatinine and urea levels—prompting transfers to Nagpur, where the victims succumbed in September and October.
A senior police officer, speaking to The Indian Express, emphasized the broadening inquiry: “The probe will also target wholesalers and stockists.” To that end, Sresan’s owner, Ranganathan, has been escorted to Tamil Nadu by a Madhya Pradesh Special Investigation Team for deeper questioning.
This case underscores the perils of unchecked pharmaceutical practices and the human cost when oversight fails. As the investigation unfolds, families grieve while authorities vow accountability at every link in the supply chain.
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