**Cough Syrup Deaths: PIL in Supreme Court Seeks CBI Probe**
*By Snehil Singh | October 7, 2025, 4:29 PM*
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the deaths of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly after consuming a cough syrup. The PIL demands an investigation led by a retired Supreme Court judge into the manufacturing, regulation, testing, and distribution of contaminated cough syrups, ANI reported.
Several children across different states reportedly died after consuming Coldrif cough syrup, which was found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG), a highly toxic industrial solvent.
### Ban and Quality Concerns
The Union Health Ministry has confirmed that Coldrif cough syrup, produced by Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, contained DEG levels beyond permissible limits. A Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai declared the product “Not of Standard Quality” after testing a sample, a finding also confirmed by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drug Control.
Following these findings and mounting concerns due to child deaths linked to suspected renal failure, Tamil Nadu became the first state to ban the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup.
### Actions Taken by Other States
In response to the crisis, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala have also banned Coldrif cough syrup. Telangana issued a public alert warning consumers about the product, while the Punjab government directed all retailers and healthcare institutions to cease purchasing or using Coldrif.
The tragic incident has led to widespread confiscation of stock nationwide and prompted stringent revisions to drug prescription guidelines in states such as Kerala and Karnataka.
### Historical Context: WHO Warnings Over Indian Cough Syrups
This is not the first time Indian-made cough syrups have been linked to fatal outcomes. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) associated cough syrups from Maiden Pharmaceuticals with the deaths of 70 children in The Gambia due to acute kidney injuries caused by DEG and ethylene glycol (EG).
In 2023, Uzbekistan reported at least 18 child deaths linked to Indian-made cough syrup manufactured by Marion Biotech, triggering another WHO warning.
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The ongoing investigation and regulatory actions highlight the urgent need for stricter quality control and oversight in pharmaceutical manufacturing to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/cough-syrup-deaths-pil-seeks-cbi-probe-states-ban-coldrif/story
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