In a major breakthrough following the tragic deaths linked to contaminated cough syrup, Tamil Nadu police have arrested G. Ranganathan, the owner of the pharmaceutical firm behind the Coldrif brand. The arrest comes after an intensive, multi-state operation that authorities described as one of their most carefully planned manhunts in recent years.
According to officials, Ranganathan went into hiding soon after reports surfaced that the Coldrif cough syrup was responsible for multiple fatalities, allegedly due to the presence of toxic substances. Investigators from the Crime Branch began tracing his movements using phone records, banking trails, and information from transport networks. Police teams were deployed across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states to locate him.
The operation reportedly took weeks of planning. Officers conducted surprise inspections at warehouses and supplier facilities linked to his company, Maruti Pharma, and questioned several employees and distributors. Acting on a tip-off, a special team finally tracked Ranganathan to a private guesthouse, where he was detained without resistance.
Police sources revealed that Ranganathan was using fake identification documents and frequently changing locations to evade capture. “He was constantly on the move, shifting between lodges and rural areas,” said a senior officer involved in the operation. “We monitored his known associates for several days before zeroing in on his hideout.”
Authorities have registered multiple cases under sections of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Indian Penal Code related to negligence and sale of adulterated medicines. Samples from the seized batches of Coldrif have been sent for further forensic testing.
The state government has ordered a high-level probe into the lapses in manufacturing and quality checks that led to the tragedy. Health officials have also launched a statewide inspection of pharmaceutical units to prevent similar incidents.
Police said Ranganathan is currently under interrogation and further arrests are expected as the investigation expands into the supply chain and distribution network connected to the contaminated syrup.