Image Source hindustantimes
Madhya Pradesh Police arrested Dr. Praveen Soni on Saturday after 16 children in Chhindwara and Betul districts died allegedly due to consuming Coldrif cough syrup.
Dr. Soni, a senior paediatrician posted at a government hospital in Parasia and also running a private clinic, defended his treatment decisions just hours before his arrest. Speaking to media, he said he had prescribed Coldrif syrup to children suffering from viral fevers during the ongoing monsoon surge over several days, as part of their primary care.
“This syrup is not meant for one-day treatment. I have been prescribing medicines from this company for over ten years. It is wrong to suggest that a primary doctor decides the formulation — we receive ready-to-use, sealed medicines,” Dr. Soni stated.
He explained that his prescriptions often included medicines from multiple pharmaceutical companies. Acting on health authorities’ advice, he has now suspended treatment of infants at his clinic. “I have treated over 100 children recently, and no medical shop has issued any notice instructing closure,” he added.
Following the deaths, police registered an FIR against Dr. Soni and the operators of Sresun Pharmaceuticals under various sections of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Laboratory analysis revealed that Coldrif syrup contained 48.6 per cent Diethylene Glycol (DEG) — a toxic chemical known to cause kidney failure and death.
[Newsroom staff written original, where key claims or facts are used, I’ve referenced the original sources (like The New Indian Express, India Today, Times of India, Indian Express, and other mainstream outlets, etc.) transparently.]
