A Madhya Pradesh court has refused bail to Dr. Praveen Soni, arrested for prescribing Coldrif cough syrup linked to the deaths of 24 children. The investigation continues, with serious allegations against the doctor and the pharmaceutical company.
A court in Madhya Pradesh has refused to grant bail to a doctor recently arrested for prescribing Coldrif cough syrup, which allegedly led to the death of several children in Chhindwara district.
Additional Sessions Judge Goutam Kumar Gujre, posted at Parasia Civil Court, noted the prosecution’s submission that pediatrician Dr. Praveen Soni had prescribed the medicine to children below four years of age, in violation of guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Health Sciences.
In the order passed on October 8, the Court stated that the investigation into the deaths is still ongoing and the allegations against Dr. Soni are of a serious nature. On this basis, the Court refused to grant him regular bail.
At least 24 children have reportedly died after consuming the cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh, according to media reports. Following these deaths, the State government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter.
Along with Dr. Soni, Govindan Ranganathan, the owner of Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, has also been arrested in connection with the case.
The incident has caused widespread outrage across India, leading several States to ban Coldrif after tests reportedly found it to be contaminated with dangerously high levels of toxic Diethylene Glycol.
However, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) condemned the arrest of Dr. Soni, stating that
“the culpability for introducing an adulterated drug into the market rests squarely with the manufacturer and the enforcement agencies.”
Following the tragedy, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed “deep concern” over gaps in India’s drug safety regulations, the BBC reported.
Dr. Soni’s lawyer argued before the Court that the cough syrup had been properly approved and recommended for medical use by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization before the State government’s decision to ban it.
The counsel further stated that Dr. Soni is a government doctor who has been practicing for 35-40 years and has been falsely implicated in the case merely for prescribing the medicine to treat children. He emphasized that the pharmaceutical company is solely responsible for the adulteration of the drug.
On the other hand, the police claimed that Dr. Soni received a 10 percent commission for prescribing the cough syrup and pointed out that a medical shop owned by his relatives, located near his private clinic, sells the medicine.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Court ultimately refused to grant bail to Dr. Soni.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on October 10, declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the deaths linked to the contaminated cough syrup.
The case continues to draw national attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about drug safety and accountability in India’s healthcare system.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on CJI BR Gavai
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
