Cough syrup deaths: ED conducts raids on premises linked to Coldrif manufacturer Sresan Pharma in Chennai

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted raids at premises linked to Sresan Pharma, the manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup and top officials of Tamil Nadu drugs control office in Chennai, officials said.

At least seven premises in Chennai are being covered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

The premises of key employees of Sresan Pharmaceuticals and P U Karthikeyan, the arrested director in-charge of Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (TNFDA), were also covered in the raids.

Karthikeyan was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in a bribery case in July.

The ED sources said the profits derived from the sale of the "adulterated" cough syrup are proceeds of crime under the PMLA and the agency is looking to gather evidence to prove this.

The raids came in the wake of the investigation against the Kanchipuram-based manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup, linked to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh, which has brought to light lapses by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration in enforcing basic regulatory norms.

Licensed in 2011 by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (TNFDA), Sresan Pharma continued operations unchecked for over a decade despite its dismal infrastructure and multiple violations of national drug safety rules, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said.

The cough syrup was found to be "dangerously" adulterated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a highly poisonous substance.

The owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, G Ranganathan, was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police on October 9.

Following the children's deaths, the Madhya Pradesh government suspended two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the FDA.

It also transferred the state's drug controller and ordered an investigation into the deaths, while police arrested a doctor from Chhindwara district on charges of negligence.

The Tamil Nadu government has also suspended two senior state drug inspectors and ordered the closure of the accused pharma company.

(With PTI inputs)