Bhopal, Oct 5 — The Madhya Pradesh Health Department has suspended Dr. Praveen Soni, a paediatrician at Parasia Civil Hospital in Chhindwara, after 11 children died allegedly from consuming a toxic cough syrup he prescribed during his private practice.
The suspension order, issued by Health Commissioner Tarun Rathi on Sunday, cites grave negligence and misconduct. It states that Dr. Soni prescribed “Coldrif” cough syrup to infants suffering from cough and cold without proper medical examination or diagnosis. Laboratory tests later confirmed that the syrup contained diethylene glycol (DEG) — a lethal industrial chemical — in concentrations between 46.28 and 48.6 per cent, far above the permissible limit of 0.1 per cent.
The toxic compound caused acute renal failure among several children, most of them under five years old, leading to multiple fatalities in the Parasia area. “His negligence led to irreversible harm and a loss of public trust in the healthcare system,” the report stated.
Dr. Soni will remain posted at the Regional Director of Health Services office in Jabalpur during his suspension period and will receive only a subsistence allowance as per departmental rules.
The tragedy has also led to criminal proceedings. Dr. Soni and Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Coldrif syrup, have been booked under Sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey confirmed Soni’s arrest during a late-night raid at Rajpal Chowk. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the pharmaceutical company’s role and trace the supply chain of the contaminated syrup.
The case has triggered public outrage and renewed demands for stricter oversight of paediatric prescriptions and drug manufacturing across India.
