Public outrage over the Chhindwara cough syrup deaths found judicial echo as the Madhya Pradesh High Court categorically rejected bail for the pharmacist at the center of the storm, along with pediatrician Praveen Soni, his wife Jyoti, and nephew. Justice Pramod Kumar Agarwal’s order on Tuesday painted a damning picture of accountability evasion.
The core lapse? The pharmacist handed out lethal Coldrief syrup in place of prescribed Nexstro-DS, sans any invoice trail. Efforts to obliterate evidence, including 66 bottles, only deepened suspicions.
Positioned as the frontline defender of drug safety, the pharmacist’s role demands impeccable record-keeping and vigilant dispensing. Dr. Soni’s prescription-less distribution of the substitute syrup blatantly defied medical standards, culminating in a deadly mix of violations.
Tragically, diethylene glycol poisoning from the adulterated product caused acute renal failure, snuffing out 26+ infant lives at Parasiya CHC over late 2025 months. Madhya Pradesh acted decisively with a ban on October 4.
Prosecution laid bare profit motives, with commissions allegedly greasing the illicit trade. In custody post-October 13, 2025, the accused face ironclad charges under stringent laws governing drugs and criminal culpability.
This pivotal rejection amid ongoing investigations spotlights nationwide frailties in pharma oversight—from factories to pharmacies. The court clarified its focus on bail alone, yet the verdict reverberates, urging fortified safeguards to shield vulnerable children from corporate and professional malfeasance.