How pharma firm owner behind deadly cough syrup that killed children was caught in Chennai

The owner of Sresan Pharma, the company behind the Coldrif cough syrup tragedy that killed over a dozen children in Madhya Pradesh, was arrested in a dramatic midnight operation.

Govindan Ranganathan, who had been on the run with his wife since the incident, ran the pharma company that manufactured Coldrif syrup. The medicine reportedly killed at least 20 children in Chhindwara and was found to contain dangerously high levels of toxic substances beyond permissible limits.

He has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering children, and drug adulteration. The police are now seeking transit remand to bring him to Madhya Pradesh.

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So, who is Govindan Ranganathan, and how did his arrest unfold? Here’s what we know.

Who is G Ranganathan?

Govindan Ranganathan, 75, is a Chennai-based pharmaceutical entrepreneur with a career spanning over four decades.

A pharmacy graduate from Madras Medical College, he first gained recognition in the early 1980s with Pronit, a nutritional syrup he personally promoted to doctors for its benefits to pregnant women, according to The Times of India.

The syrup quickly became popular, but the state drug control department later raised concerns over certain ingredients. Though marketed as a “nutritional food supplement,” some components required official approval. Ranganathan eventually secured the necessary licence and brought the product into compliance.

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He went on to expand his business with multiple small manufacturing units around Chennai. He later headed Sresan Pharmaceuticals, maintained ties with Ceego Labs, while close associates ran Iven Healthcare.

“Within industry circles, he was known for mentoring young entrepreneurs, guiding pharmacy graduates on starting small-scale manufacturing ventures, and staying active at conferences and industry meetings until recently,” J Jeyaselan, a Chennai-based drug manufacturer, told the outlet.

Ranganathan’s 2,000 sq ft unit on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway has now been sealed, and his registered office in Kodambakkam remains locked.

Neighbours told the outlet that the office, once a busy first-floor apartment, was cleared out only last week, with employees seen moving equipment and computers late at night.

A lone security guard now directs visitors to Ranganathan’s lawyer, who has declined to provide any details.

Shady operations of Sresan Pharma

Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the company behind the deadly Coldrif cough syrup, has a checkered history that raises serious concerns about its operations and regulatory oversight.

The company was originally registered as a private limited firm in 1990, but was later struck off the Ministry of Corporate Affairs register. Despite this, it continued operating under a proprietary structure.

Corporate records list four directors: Ranganathan Govindarajan, Ranganathan Rani, Govindan Bala Subramanian, and Ranganathan Govindan. But as of 2009, Ranganathan Govindarajan remained the sole director, and the last submitted balance sheet also dates to that year.

While the company claimed online to “trade” in syrups, tonics, and herbal child growth supplements, investigations now point to gross negligence and violations of drug manufacturing standards, according to NDTV Profit.

Investigators found that industrial-grade chemicals for Coldrif were sourced from local suppliers in Chennai, including Sunrise Biotech and Pandia Chemicals, with payments made via cash and Google Pay. Propylene glycol, a key ingredient, was reportedly obtained from chemical traders and even paint industry dealers.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Visuals outside Sresan Pharma in Kancheepuram district. Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara Police have arrested Sresan Pharma owner S Ranganathan in connection with children's death linked to cough syrup. He will be produced before Chennai court and brought to… pic.twitter.com/9CjZvaVlIa

— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2025

The manufacturing process was also found to have 350 violations, including the cough syrup being produced in unhygienic conditions. Laboratory tests confirmed that the syrup contained dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals, including 48.6 per cent Diethylene Glycol (DEG), which can cause severe kidney damage and death.

Consumption of this Coldrif syrup has led to at least 20 deaths in multiple states, following which Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh banned its sale. While Karnataka and Telangana issued high-alert warnings and urged the public to stay informed about the risks.

Manhunt to arrest Ranganathan

Govindan had been on the run since the Coldrif cough syrup tragedy came to light.

After previous attempts to apprehend him in Tamil Nadu failed, Madhya Pradesh police announced a Rs 20,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

According to NDTV, acting on precise intelligence, a special team from MP, led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Parasia, reached Chennai on October 5, just a day after an FIR was filed against Sresan Pharma.

The team included female officers, cyber experts, and drug inspectors to manage the technical aspects of the operation.

Police sources said the arrest was meticulously planned. Investigators tracked Ranganathan’s vehicles, monitored his residence, and followed his bank transactions, piecing together his movements step by step. The operation was launched in the early hours, and he was arrested around 1:30 am.

#WATCH | Children's death linked to cough syrup | Madhya Pradesh: Chhindwara SP Ajay Pandey says, "The SIT that left from Chhindwara has arrested Sresan Pharma owner Ranganathan. He was rounded up late night and then arrested...His medical examination will be done and further… pic.twitter.com/iad6nSxrXL

— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2025

Following his arrest, he was taken to Sresan Pharma’s Kancheepuram factory, where crucial documents were seized. MP Police are now seeking transit remand from a Chennai court to bring Ranganathan to Chhindwara, the district where most of the deaths occurred.

Authorities also indicated that the investigation will expand to examine the entire supply chain, including chemical suppliers, stockists, and medical representatives, to trace every link in the network that allowed the toxic syrup to reach the markets.

With input from agencies