Doctor's bail plea rejected in cough syrup case linked to death of 26 children

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the bail application of pediatrician Pravin Soni. Pravin Soni is accused of the alleged criminal act of prescribing 'Coldrif' cough syrup, which was responsible for the deaths of 26 children in Madhya Pradesh. The Court observed that the case is extremely serious and the release of the accused at this stage is not appropriate.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana heard the application. The Court noted that allegations against Soni have been framed recently. Furthermore, the stockist involved in this case is a relative of Pravin Soni, which suggests that a more thorough investigation into their relationship is necessary.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Soni, argued that his client had merely prescribed the medicine and was not involved in the manufacturing process, nor was he a manufacturer. However, the bench did not accept this argument and emphasized the gravity of the allegations. The Court stated, "Children have died... it is very serious. 26 children have died. The fact that you are a qualified doctor makes this case even more serious."

The Court further stated that if the prosecution fails to prove the lack of knowledge on Soni's part, life imprisonment could be awarded in this case. The bench clarified, "As long as you cannot prove the lack of necessary knowledge, this is a case of life imprisonment." However, the Court has permitted Soni to reapply for bail after one year.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Pravin Soni was on duty at the Civil Hospital in Parsia, Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh. He was arrested on 5 October, 2025, following a complaint by Block Medical Officer Dr. Ankit Sehlam. Charges have been registered against him under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

The sequence of events began on 4 September, 2025, with the death of the first child due to Coldrif syrup in Chhindwara. Despite this, the alleged prescription of this syrup continued. Investigations revealed that the medicine samples contained an extremely high amount of a toxic industrial solvent called 'Diethylene Glycol' (DEG). According to laboratory reports, the concentration of DEG in the syrup was 46.28%, while its permissible limit is only 0.1%. This chemical is used in industrial products such as brake fluid and antifreeze, which can cause kidney failure and fatal injuries, especially in children.

According to the prosecution, Soni prescribed this syrup to children aged 2 to 4 years, which caused them severe kidney damage. These children were sent to the Medical College Hospital in Nagpur, where several children died.

Investigations also allege that Soni's wife, Jyoti Soni, who worked at 'Aapna Medical Store' located next to their clinic, was selling this syrup without a prescription. The prosecution claims that Soni received a 10% commission on every bottle prescribed, while the pharmacy made a profit of ₹ 23 per bottle. This matter points towards a scheme between the husband and wife for selling and prescribing the medicine.

The State Government further alleged that Soni continued to provide this syrup despite a circular issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on 18 December, 2023. This circular banned fixed-dose combination cough syrups for children under 4 years of age. The prosecution claims that a senior pediatrician from Nagpur had warned Soni about a similar accident caused by DEG-contaminated cough syrup in Delhi in 1998.