3 Sresan Pharma officials held for toxic syrup deaths

BHOPAL: The SIT probing the toxic cough syrup tragedy that claimed 23 children’s lives in MP has arrested three more people, including the laboratory manager of the Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical company behind the fatal solution, reports P Naveen.Among those held Tuesday is K Maheshweri, production manager and quality control in-charge at Sresan Pharmaceuticals. She was detained from Kancheepuram and is being brought to Chhindwara for interrogation, officials said.Two others — Saurabh Jain, a wholesale drug distributor, and Rajesh Soni, a pharmacist — were arrested from Chhindwara for allegedly concealing remaining stock of Coldrif syrup. Their arrest followed a report by the local drug inspector.SIT has widened its probe across supply chain — from manufacture to last-mile distribution — to trace how the syrup, contaminated with diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent, caused the poisoning.Maheshweri, who oversaw formulation and testing of oral liquid medicines at Sresan’s factory, was arrested after evidence indicated her direct role in clearing the fatal batch. “We already had an arrest warrant against her,” said IG, Chhindwara range, Pramod Verma.Investigators found the factory operating in cramped premises with manual systems and little oversight. “It functioned more like a bottling unit than a certified pharma manufacturer,” an SIT official said.