The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its scrutiny of Sreesan Pharma by conducting searches across seven locations in Chennai as part of its investigation into the ‘Coldrif’ cough syrup case. The raids, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), are directly related to the deaths of several children allegedly caused by the contaminated syrup. Official reports suggest that these searches encompass the residences of senior personnel within the Tamil Nadu drug control department, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight.
This decisive action follows the discovery of the lethal nature of ‘Coldrif’ cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh, where it was implicated in the deaths of at least 22 children in the Chhindwara district. The ED’s focus on Sreesan Pharma is part of a broader pattern of financial investigations into the pharmaceutical sector in Chennai, including previous probes into loan fraud and drug trafficking. The agency is meticulously examining financial transactions and asset movements to identify and seize any illicit gains derived from the distribution of the toxic cough syrup. The ongoing investigation underscores the ED’s commitment to tackling economic offenses that have grave public health consequences and ensuring accountability for those responsible for such preventable tragedies.