Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh): Mounting trouble continues for paediatrician Dr Praveen Soni, who is under investigation for allegedly prescribing contaminated cough syrup that has been linked to the deaths of 14 children in Chhindwara district. The state government has now suspended the licence of a medical store reportedly owned by one of his family members, escalating the probe into the tragic incident.
Licence cancelled after serious violations found
Officials from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in Chhindwara confirmed that the licence of Apna Medical Stores in Parasia — allegedly owned by a relative of Dr Soni — was cancelled after inspectors found “serious irregularities” under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
Licencing Authority Sharad Kumar Jain stated that an inspection revealed incomplete sales records, absence of a registered pharmacist, and missing sales bills. “The proprietor failed to respond to a show-cause notice within the stipulated time, leading to immediate cancellation of the licence,” he said.
Officials suspect that the medical store may have played a role in distributing the contaminated batch of Coldrif syrup, which is at the centre of the ongoing investigation.
Over 600 bottles of tainted syrup dispatched
Authorities said that over 600 bottles of the contaminated cough syrup were dispatched from Jabalpur to Chhindwara district, with a large batch subsequently sent to Parasia. Local teams have traced and seized around 400 bottles, but nearly 200 bottles remain unaccounted for, raising fears that they may already be in circulation.
“The clinic owned by a member of Dr Soni’s family is located adjacent to his own clinic. They have not produced proper documentation for the contaminated batch,” a senior official said, indicating a possible link between the family’s medical establishment and the local distributor.
Officials suspended as government cracks down
In a sweeping administrative action, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered the suspension of several officials for alleged negligence in preventing the circulation of the contaminated drug.
Those suspended include Drug Inspector of Chhindwara Gaurav Sharma, Drug Inspector of Jabalpur Sharad Kumar Jain, and Deputy Director of FDA Shobhit Koshta, while Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya has been transferred. Their roles are being examined to determine how the tainted cough syrup escaped regulatory scrutiny.
Statewide crackdown on Coldrif syrup
Chief Minister Yadav has directed a comprehensive crackdown on the sale and circulation of the contaminated Coldrif syrup. Moving beyond a simple ban, he ordered that “existing stock in medical stores be seized” and initiated an unusual recovery campaign to retrieve the syrup from households where it may have been consumed.
He instructed that ASHA and USHA workers, along with government officials, should participate in this door-to-door operation across Chhindwara and nearby districts.
“The objective is not just to ban the sale but to ensure the complete removal of the drug from circulation,” a senior health official said.
Campaign for drug safety and awareness
The chief minister also announced a statewide awareness and inspection drive to verify whether warnings and usage instructions on medicines are properly labelled. “Strict action will be taken against violators,” Yadav said, adding that the government will work closely with the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and various chemist associations to strengthen drug safety measures.
Officials said that meetings have been held with private doctors, hospitals, and chemists in Chhindwara and Parasia to review safety protocols and identify potentially affected patients. Those needing further care have been referred to the Government Medical College in Nagpur for specialised treatment.
Meanwhile, local authorities have imposed restrictions on the sale of suspect drugs and intensified inspections of medical shops and hospitals in the region.
A deepening investigation
With nearly 200 bottles of the contaminated syrup yet to be located, the investigation continues to widen, focusing on the supply chain between Jabalpur distributors and local chemists. Officials say that tracing the missing stock is now a top priority.
The Madhya Pradesh government has assured that accountability will be fixed at every level, promising stern action against those responsible for the lapse.