The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday raided the premises of Shreesan Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of cough syrup Coldrif, believed to be responsible for the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and top officials of the Tamil Nadu FDA. Official sources gave this information.
Sources said the Enforcement Directorate took this action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in at least seven premises in Chennai.
At least 20 children, most of whom were under five years of age, died after being given Coldrif in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has said that Kancheepuram-based Sreesan Pharma, which got a license from the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (TNFDA) in 2011, continued to operate for more than a decade despite its poor infrastructure and multiple violations of National Drug Safety Rules.
Cough syrup was found to be adulterated with a highly toxic substance called diethylene glycol (DEG) at ‘dangerous’ levels.
Srisan Pharmaceuticals owner G Ranganathan was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police on October 9.
