Madhya Pradesh High Court Refuses Bail To Pediatrician In Coldriff Cough Syrup Death Case
The Madhya Pradesh High Court denied bail to pediatrician Dr. S.S. Thakur, accused of prescribing banned Coldriff cough syrup to children under four, resulting in multiple deaths and severe kidney damage. The court ruled that the allegations, including violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and a 2023 government ban, were grave enough to warrant continued custody despite the doctor’s claim of good faith.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court rejected a bail plea for Dr. S.S. Thakur, a pediatrician from Parasia in Chhindwara district, who faces charges in the Coldriff cough syrup deaths. The court cited the prescription of a banned fixed-dose combination to children under four years old, despite a government circular issued on December 18, 2023, which led to multiple fatalities and widespread public health harm. Dr. Thakur, in custody since March 7, 2026, argued that he prescribed the syrup—containing Paracetamol, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, and Phenylephrine—in good faith, unaware of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) contamination. His defense claimed the drug combination itself was not explicitly banned, relying on precedents like *Jacob Mathew v. State of Punjab* to argue that medical negligence required further inquiry. The prosecution countered with laboratory reports confirming DEG levels far exceeding safe limits, linking the toxin to acute kidney failure in affected children. Government Advocate C.M. Tiwari argued that Dr. Thakur’s continued prescriptions, even after reports of kidney complications, demonstrated culpability and disregard for public safety. The High Court, led by Justice Pramod Kumar Agrawal, dismissed the bail application, emphasizing the severity of the case. The court noted that Dr. Thakur, as a child specialist, knowingly prescribed a banned medication, directly contributing to the deaths of innocent children. The ruling underscored the need to uphold public trust in justice amid large-scale health violations. The case stems from Crime No. 296 of 2025, registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, highlighting systemic failures in drug regulation and medical oversight.
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