Bhopal: Amid a major controversy over the deaths of 11 children after consuming contaminated cough syrups, the doctor who prescribed ‘Coldrif’ has been arrested in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. Most of the affected children had received treatment from Parasia-based paediatrician Dr Praveen Soni.
The Madhya Pradesh government has also registered a case against Srisan Pharmaceuticals, a company from Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu that produced the Coldrif cough syrup.
“On the basis of the BMO report, a case was filed under the 105 BNS, 276 BNS, and 27 (A) Drug and Cosmetic Act. Dr Praveen Soni treated the maximum number of children in this matter. He had prescribed Coldrif… Based on this, he has been named an accused in this case. The manufacturing company, Sresan Pharmaceuticals of Tamil Nadu, has also been named a prime accused in this case… The doctor is in Police custody…,” SP Ajay Pandey told news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, Dr Soni was suspended with immediate effect on Sunday, just hours after his arrest, for medical negligence.
“On the instructions of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, Dr Praveen Soni, a paediatrician posted in Parasia, Chhindwara district, has been suspended with immediate effect. He has been suspended for negligence in the treatment of infants. Following his suspension, he has been attached to the Regional Office of Health Services, Jabalpur,” Madhya Pradesh CMO said.
Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh CMO- "On the instructions of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, Dr Praveen Soni, a paediatrician posted in Parasia, Chhindwara district, has been suspended with immediate effect. He has been suspended for negligence in the treatment of infants. Following his… https://t.co/2oKfkOFkWE
— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2025
Earlier, the government prohibited the sale of Coldrif after officials found that its samples had 48.6% diethylene glycol, which is a highly toxic substance. The government drug analyst at the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai tested a sample of the syrup, following which the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drug Control declared it “Not of Standard Quality”.
On Monday, the local administration banned Coldrif and ‘Nextro-DS’, another cough syrup, as a precautionary step. The test report of Nextro-DS is yet to arrive.
Families, grief-stricken over the loss, said the children first showed symptoms of a cold and mild fever in early September. They were then given routine medication, including cough syrups, and initially seemed to recover. However, within days, the symptoms returned, accompanied by a sudden drop in urine output. Their condition then progressed into kidney infections, and they later died. Kidney biopsies later showed that diethylene glycol was present.
Describing the deaths as “extremely tragic,” Chief Minister Mohan Yadav promised strict action against those responsible.
“The deaths of children in Chhindwara due to Coldrif syrup are extremely tragic. The sale of this syrup has been banned across Madhya Pradesh. A ban is also being imposed on the sale of other products from the company that manufactures the syrup,” he wrote on X on Saturday.
छिंदवाड़ा में Coldrif सिरप के कारण हुई बच्चों की मृत्यु अत्यंत दुखद है। इस सिरप की बिक्री को पूरे मध्यप्रदेश में बैन कर दिया है। सिरप को बनाने वाली कंपनी के अन्य प्रोडक्ट की बिक्री पर भी बैन लगाया जा रहा है।
— Dr Mohan Yadav (@DrMohanYadav51) October 4, 2025
सिरप बनाने वाली फैक्ट्री कांचीपुरम में है, इसलिए घटना के संज्ञान में…
“The investigation report was received this morning. Strict action has been taken based on the report. Following the tragic deaths of the children, action was underway at the local level. A team has also been formed at the state level to investigate this matter. The guilty will not be spared at any cost,” Yadav said.
ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu Bans ‘Coldrif’ Cough Syrup Amid Child Deaths Linked to Possible Contamination
