• Source:JND
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Chennai Police arrested pharmaceutical company owner Ranganathan, the key accused in the cough syrup tragedy that claimed the lives of 20 children in Madhya Pradesh, following a dramatic midnight operation. Tamil Nadu’s Health Minister announced that Ranganathan’s company license will be permanently cancelled within a few days.

According to the NDTV report, the police said Ranganathan and his wife had been on the run since the tragedy came to light. He was apprehended in Chennai around 1:30 am on Thursday.

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Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramaniam said, "The particular pharma company license will be permanently cancelled in a couple of days. It is now temporarily suspended. After further investigation and inspection, the pharmaceutical company's license will be permanently cancelled."

Ranganathan Govindan owns Sresan Pharma, which manufactures the Coldrif syrup. At least 20 children died in Chhindwara after consuming the cough syrup, which was found to contain a highly poisonous substance beyond permissible limits.

How Police Caught The Accused Ranganathan

Acting on specific intelligence, a special police team from Madhya Pradesh, led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Parasia, reached Chennai on October 5, just a day after an FIR was registered against Sresan Pharmaceuticals. The team included female officers, cyber experts, and drug inspectors to support the technical aspects of the investigation.

According to police sources, the operation was meticulously planned. Investigators tracked Ranganathan’s vehicles, monitored his residence, and followed his bank transactions to trace his movements. Their persistent efforts culminated in a swift midnight arrest around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, bringing to a close a multi-state manhunt.

After his arrest, Ranganathan was taken to Sresan Pharma’s factory in Kancheepuram, where key documents were seized. Police are now seeking a transit remand from a Chennai court to transfer him to Chhindwara for further interrogation.

Just a day before the arrest, Chhindwara police had announced a Rs 20,000 reward for information leading to his capture. 

What Investigation Revealed About Ranganathan Company 

Sresan Pharmaceuticals, a Chennai-based manufacturer of the ‘Coldrif’ cough syrup, came under intense scrutiny after the syrup was linked to the deaths of 20 children and severe illness in others in Madhya Pradesh.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the company, originally registered as a private limited firm in 1990, had been struck off the Ministry of Corporate Affairs register. Despite this, it continued to operate as a proprietary concern, raising serious concerns about regulatory oversight and compliance failures.

The company, which claimed to be engaged in trading syrups, tonics, and herbal formulations, is now facing serious allegations of gross negligence and violations of drug manufacturing standards.

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Following Ranganathan's arrest, police sources said the investigation will now expand to scrutinize the entire supply chain, including chemical suppliers, stockists, and medical representatives, to uncover every link in the network that enabled the toxic syrup to reach unsuspecting children.