G. Ranganathan, owner of Sresan Pharma that made Coldrif cough syrup, arrested in Chennai

G. Ranganathan, proprietor of Kancheepuram-based Sreshan Pharmacy, was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Special Investigation Team in Chennai on Thursday (October 9, 2025) morning for allegedly producing contaminated cough syrup linked to the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

According to police sources, Ranganathan was detained from his residence in Kodambakkam by a team comprising members of the Madhya Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT) and Chennai’s Ashok Nagar police. The company is accused of manufacturing the toxic Coldrif cough syrup linked to 21 deaths in M.P.

Following his arrest, the SIT and Chennai police jointly conducted a search at the company’s manufacturing unit in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram, to examine production records and samples.

Madhya Pradesh police have booked Ranganathan under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and other laws. Further investigation is under progress.

His 2,000 sq ft manufacturing facility located along the Chennai–Bengaluru Highway has been sealed, while his registered office in Kodambakkam remains shuttered.

Residents in the area said the office, once frequented by visitors, was cleared out last week, with staff seen shifting equipment and computers late at night.

Laboratory analysis conducted in Tamil Nadu confirmed that Coldrif cough syrup contained toxic substances. Following this, the Madhya Pradesh government imposed a ban on the sale of the product as well as all other medicines manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the Tamil Nadu-based company.

The confirmation was detailed in a report from the Tamil Nadu Director of Drugs Control, submitted to the Madhya Pradesh government on October 4.