Daijiworld Media Network – Chhindwara

Chhindwara, Oct 11: Anger spilled onto the streets of Chhindwara on Friday as locals and lawyers screamed and lunged at 75-year-old Ranganathan Govindan, owner of Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, demanding death penalty for him over the deaths of 23 children allegedly caused by toxic cough syrup ‘Coldrif’.

Ranganathan, whose company manufactured the suspected syrup, was brought to court amid tight security. Twenty of the deaths occurred in Chhindwara alone. By the time the Parasia court remanded him in 10-day police custody, the septuagenarian had already faced hours of mob rage outside the court premises.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) told the court that his remand was necessary to trace Coldrif’s supply chain. Granting custody till October 20, the court cited security concerns and directed that he be lodged in Chhindwara district jail during questioning.

Ranganathan, who claimed to be hypertensive and diabetic, chose to defend himself after local lawyers refused to represent him. He told the court that his company supplied medicines to five states but only Madhya Pradesh had reported adverse effects.

Charged with culpable homicide and offences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Ranganathan may also be taken to Tamil Nadu for further investigation, said Chhindwara SP Ajay Pandey. “Any facts that emerge during interrogation will have to be verified as most of the evidence and materials are located there,” he added.

Meanwhile, doctors in Chhindwara launched protests in support of paediatrician Dr Praveen Soni, arrested recently for allegedly prescribing the fatal cough syrup. The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) warned that criminalising standard medical prescriptions could instill fear among doctors and seriously affect paediatric healthcare.