MP doctor accused of taking 10% commission for prescribing Coldrif syrup, police inform court
MP doctor accused of taking 10% commission for prescribing Coldrif syrup, police inform court
Prescriptions meant to heal have allegedly turned fatal in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, where a paediatrician stands accused of knowingly administering a tainted cough syrup to children, resulting in multiple deaths. The doctor, identified as Dr Praveen Soni, is now at the centre of a chilling case involving alleged kickbacks from a pharmaceutical company, violations of national health guidelines, and a growing death toll that has left families devastated and authorities scrambling for accountability.
According to revelations made before a sessions court, Dr Soni was allegedly receiving a 10% commission from Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, the firm responsible for producing Coldrif, the cough syrup now linked to the deaths of at least 15 children. The syrup reportedly contained Diethylene Glycol, a toxic substance known to cause kidney failure and fatal complications in children.
The unfolding investigation gained momentum as the Tamil Nadu government stepped in, shutting down Sresan Pharmaceutical and cancelling its licence. Simultaneously, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided properties associated with the company, intensifying scrutiny into how the adulterated medicine made it to shelves and into the hands of unsuspecting parents.
The disturbing details emerged during the hearing of Dr Soni’s bail application at the Parasia sessions court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Gautam Kumar Gujar. The court denied bail on October 8, citing that the doctor “knowingly prescribed and facilitated the use of a dangerous, adulterated medicine despite being fully aware of the associated risks and government advisories against such drugs for children under four.”
The court was presented with a police report outlining the timeline of negligence. As per the probe, the Directorate General of Health Services had, on December 18, 2023, issued a directive to all states and Union Territories advising against the administration of Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) medicines to children below four years of age. However, Dr Soni allegedly disregarded this directive and continued to recommend Coldrif syrup, “despite knowing it was causing side effects such as urine retention and kidney complications in children.”
Further details from the investigation claim that “15 children lost their lives while under his care” and that the accused “was financially benefiting through a 10% commission for each prescription of Coldrif.”
Dr Soni, however, has denied all allegations. His legal counsel, Pawan Kumar Shukla, argued that the doctor was simply doing his duty, stating in court that as a government-employed paediatrician, “he prescribed medicines in good faith without any knowledge of their contamination.” He also maintained that drug testing and quality control falls under the jurisdiction of the Drug Controller Department and not the responsibility of treating doctors. “He has served for over three decades and had no intent to harm,” the lawyer added.
The police investigation has now extended its scope beyond Dr Soni, as new links have emerged suggesting that his relatives might also be involved. A medical store adjacent to Dr Soni’s private clinic is reportedly owned by a family member, and the syrup’s stockist in Chhindwara is also said to be a relative, raising concerns of a broader nexus. “We are now looking closely at the role of the stockists and wholesalers involved,” a senior police officer told The Indian Express.
The main accused from the manufacturer’s side, Ranganathan, who owns Sresan Pharmaceutical, has been taken into custody by the Madhya Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT) and transported to Tamil Nadu for further interrogation.
The initial FIR was lodged on October 4 against Dr Soni, directors of Sresan Pharmaceutical, and a Jabalpur-based wholesaler. The complaint was filed by Parasia Block Medical Officer, Dr Ankit Sehlam, who alleged that multiple child fatalities occurred following the consumption of the Coldrif syrup containing the toxic chemical.
Reports from the police note that several children under the age of five were treated by Dr Soni at the Government Community Health Centre in Parasia for routine cold, fever, and cough symptoms. After being administered the syrup, many began showing alarming signs—difficulty in urinating, spikes in creatinine and urea levels, and symptoms of kidney failure. As their conditions worsened, the children were referred to hospitals in Nagpur, where tragically, they succumbed to the effects of the contaminated medicine in September and October.
