More trouble for doctor as MP cough syrup tragedy deepens

Days after contaminated cough syrup allegedly claimed the lives of 14 children, the Madhya Pradesh government has intensified its probe, zeroing in on the family of Dr. Praveen Soni, the pediatrician accused of prescribing the deadly medicine.

Authorities have suspended the license of Apna Medical Stores in Parasia, reportedly owned by a relative of Dr. Soni, after uncovering multiple “serious irregularities” under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Over 600 bottles of the contaminated syrup were dispatched from Jabalpur to Chhindwara, with a significant portion reaching Parasia.

Officials have seized around 400 bottles, but nearly 200 remain unaccounted for, raising fears that they may still be in circulation.

A source close to the investigation said, “The clinic operated by a family member is located adjacent to Dr. Soni’s clinic. Proper documentation for the contaminated batch could not be produced. We are probing whether there was a direct link between the local distributor and Dr. Soni’s family.”

Licensing Authority Sharad Kumar Jain confirmed that the pharmacy had incomplete sales records, lacked a registered pharmacist, and failed to provide sales bills. After the proprietor ignored a show-cause notice, the licence was cancelled immediately.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also suspended key officials, including Chhindwara Drug Inspector Gaurav Sharma, Jabalpur Drug Inspector Sharad Kumar Jain, Deputy Director Shobhit Koshta, and transferred Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya, citing their failure to detect the contaminated syrup.

Yadav ordered not just the ban of Coldrif syrup but also a rigorous house-to-house recovery campaign of the drug in Chhindwara and surrounding districts. He directed ASHA and USHA workers, along with government staff, to assist in the operation. The government will also assess the safety of other drugs sold recently and ensure proper labeling and warnings are displayed, with strict action against violators.

Officials said private doctors, hospitals, and chemists in Chhindwara and Parasia have been engaged to provide guidance, while affected patients are being identified and referred for treatment at Government Medical College, Nagpur. The administration has also imposed restrictions on the sale of the syrup and begun inspections of local hospitals and pharmacies.

With the involvement of organizations such as the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and chemist associations, the government aims to implement awareness measures and preventive steps to ensure such a tragedy does not recur.