Ranganathan Govindan, the owner of the Pharma that manufactured contaminated cough syrup 'Coldrif' linked to the deaths of more than 20 children in Madhya Pradesh state, was on Friday remanded to 10-day police custody by the court. Govindan was arrested in the southern state on Thursday by a Special Investigative Team set up by the MP government.
Ranganathan appeared before Additional Session Judge Gautam Gurjar in Parasia town after he was brought on transit remand from a Chennai court, SIT chief Jitendra Jaat said. The court has remanded Ranganathan Govindan in a 10-day police remand, Jaat added.
Additional Collector Dhirendra Singh Netri said that 22 children have so far died after consuming “contaminated” Coldrif syrup. The deaths, reported from Chhindwara and other districts, are suspected to be caused by kidney failure linked to the toxic cough syrup, officials said. Several affected children from Madhya Pradesh are currently undergoing treatment in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
The factory in which the cough syrup was manufactured is sealed now. Meanwhile, related to the incident, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav government earlier this week suspended two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
It also transferred the MP’s drug controller amid a probe into the children's deaths, while police arrested Chhindwara-based Dr Praveen Soni for alleged negligence. The court rejected Soni's bail plea on Wednesday.
Incidentally, the Indian Medical Association has opposed the arrest of Dr Soni, and its members have sported black bands in protest.
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