Tamil Nadu government completely revokes licence of adulterated cough syrup firm, shuts down company

The manufacturing licence of Tamil Nadu based Sresan Pharmaceutical company involved in making the adulterated cough syrup Coldrif has completely been revoked, and the company has been ordered to shut down, the State government informed on Monday (October 13, 2025).

The State Drug Control Department officials had during an inspection found the cough syrup contained 48.6% of Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic substance. This medicine is linked to the death of children in Madhya Pradesh.

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The officials had also found that the company lacked proper good manufacturing practices (GMP) and good laboratory practices (GLP), and they recorded over 300 critical and major violations.

The company’s owner, G. Ranganathan, was recently arrested by a special investigation team from Madhya Pradesh.

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Earlier in the day, a team from the Enforcement Directorate searched the premises of Sresan Pharmaceuticals and some officials, in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.

“The drug manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceuticals has been completely cancelled, and the company has been closed. Orders have been given to conduct a detailed inspection of other drug manufacturing companies located in Tamil Nadu,” the government said.