The Supreme Court on Friday refused to order a CBI investigation into the tragic deaths of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, who allegedly died after consuming contaminated cough syrup.
Cough Syrup Deaths: Court Rejects Demand for Central Investigation
The bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran dismissed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari on October 10, 2025. The petition had sought a court-monitored CBI probe into the spate of child deaths linked to toxic cough syrups.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed the petition, asserting that state governments are fully competent to investigate such matters. He informed the court that respective states are already taking necessary action to address the crisis.
Cough Syrup Deaths: Petitioner Questioned on PIL Filing Pattern
During the brief hearing, CJI Gavai questioned the petitioner about his track record of filing PILs. When asked “How many PILs have you filed?” Advocate Tiwari admitted to filing “eight or nine” such petitions.
The Solicitor General further pointed out that the petitioner had a habit of filing PILs solely based on newspaper reports without substantial independent investigation. Following this exchange, the bench proceeded to dismiss the petition.
What is Toxic Cough Syrup Tragedy
According to reports, at least 14 children have died since early September 2025, with most fatalities reported from Nagpur in Maharashtra, Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan.
The deaths have been allegedly linked to Coldrif Cough Syrup manufactured by Sresan Pharma Pvt. Ltd., a Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical company.
Laboratory tests revealed that the contaminated cough syrup contained dangerous levels of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) – the same toxic compounds that have caused child deaths in previous incidents globally.
What the PIL Demanded
The dismissed petition had made several critical demands:
- The PIL called for the constitution of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the manufacture, testing, and distribution of contaminated cough syrups.
- It sought transfer of all pending FIRs and investigations related to child deaths from poisonous cough syrups to the CBI, under supervision of a former apex court judge.
The petition argued that separate state-level investigations have led to fragmented accountability, enabling repeated lapses that allow hazardous formulations to reach the market.
It also demanded immediate recall, seizure, and prohibition of sale of all batches of Coldrif Cough Syrup and other products manufactured by Sresan Pharma Pvt. Ltd.
Cough Syrup Deaths: States Take Independent Action
Several states have already taken action following the deaths. Punjab government announced a ban on the sale, distribution, and use of Coldrif cough syrup on October 7, 2025. Other states including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have initiated their own investigations into the matter.
State drug controllers have been directed to conduct raids on stockists and retailers to seize the contaminated batches.
Samples of the suspected syrup have been sent to government laboratories for detailed toxicological analysis.
Cough Syrup Deaths: Drug Safety Concerns Rise
The incident has once again raised serious questions about drug safety mechanisms in India. This is not the first instance of contaminated medicines causing child deaths in the country.
Health experts have pointed out systemic failures in the drug testing and approval process that allow substandard and adulterated medicines to reach consumers.
The presence of industrial-grade toxic compounds like DEG and EG in pharmaceutical products indicates severe manufacturing violations.
Legal Case Details
The case is registered as VISHAL TIWARI Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS, W.P.(C) No. 971/2025 in the Supreme Court of India.
While the apex court dismissed the PIL, it did not prevent state authorities from continuing their investigations or taking strict action against the guilty manufacturers and distributors
