New Delhi: Indian authorities have launched a criminal investigation against Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical company Sresan Pharma after at least 14 children died in Madhya Pradesh, reportedly due to the consumption of a contaminated batch of the company’s Coldrif cough syrup.

Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of 46 to 48 percent diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical used in industrial products such as antifreeze, in samples of the syrup. The permissible limit for DEG in medicinal products is 0.1 percent. The contaminated batch was distributed within India, primarily in the Chhindwara district, where the first cluster of deaths occurred.

Police have registered a case against Sresan Pharma under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The company’s directors are currently under investigation. The doctor who prescribed the syrup, identified as Dr. Praveen Soni, has been arrested. Dr. Soni, who worked at a community health center in Parasia, stated that he had been prescribing the same brand for 15 years and was unaware of the contamination.

The death toll, initially reported as 10, has now risen to 14, while several other children remain in critical condition with kidney failure in hospitals in Nagpur and other nearby cities. Following the incident, the Madhya Pradesh government suspended Dr. Soni and formed a special investigation team to probe the case.

Authorities in multiple states, including Rajasthan, Kerala, and Maharashtra, have banned the sale of the implicated Coldrif batch. Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration has also imposed a state-wide ban on the syrup, and Kerala has instructed pharmacies not to sell any cough syrups without a prescription. The central government has directed all state drug controllers to enhance quality inspections and ensure the safety of pediatric medicines.

The incident has reignited concerns about pharmaceutical safety and regulation in India, where several previous cases of syrup-related child deaths have raised global alarm. Health Minister officials have assured that those responsible will face strict punishment and that measures are being taken to prevent a recurrence.

Investigators are now tracing the source of the contaminated ingredients and have ordered the seizure of all remaining Coldrif stocks pending further forensic analysis. Public health experts have called for stronger oversight of small-scale drug manufacturers and improved transparency in raw material sourcing.

The tragedy has sparked outrage across India, with families demanding justice for the victims and greater accountability from both medical professionals and pharmaceutical regulators. The government’s high-level review into the case is expected to lead to tighter controls on pediatric drug production nationwide.