Chennai, Oct 4: Authorities have detected adulteration in samples of cough syrups produced by a city-based pharmaceutical company, prompting an immediate halt in production and intensifying regulatory action after recent child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Officials from the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) confirmed that test results of syrups collected during an inspection at the firm’s manufacturing unit in Sunguvarchathram, Kancheepuram district, revealed the medicines were adulterated.

The company has been ordered to explain the findings and cease production until further notice.

The crackdown follows the Tamil Nadu government’s statewide ban on the cough syrup brand Coldrif, enforced from October 1, after concerns that the medicine may have been linked to the death of at least 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to suspected kidney failure.

Health authorities have also cleared stocks of the syrup from the local market to prevent further risk.

According to officials, the same manufacturer had supplied its cough syrups to multiple states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry, raising concerns about the reach of the potentially unsafe product.

Samples collected last week were sent to state-run laboratories for detailed analysis, and the initial results confirmed contamination.

The ripple effect of the safety scare has been felt across states. On Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh government announced a ban on the sale of Coldrif after nine child deaths were reported since September 7 due to suspected renal failure.

At least 13 children, including cases from Chhindwara and Nagpur, remain under treatment. In Rajasthan, the crisis has triggered administrative action.

The state government suspended its Drug Controller, Rajaram Sharma, following allegations of influencing the process of drug quality determination.

The Rajasthan Medical and Health Department has also halted the supply of 19 medicines manufactured by Jaipur-based Kaysons Pharma until further review and safety clearance.

Health experts say the episode underscores gaps in quality control and the urgent need for stricter oversight of pharmaceutical production and distribution.

Authorities in Tamil Nadu are expected to intensify inspections of local drug makers and coordinate with other states to track and recall any potentially unsafe consignments.

With public safety concerns mounting, officials said further updates on the manufacturer’s explanation and long-term corrective measures will follow once investigations conclude.

Mumbai: A police constable attached to the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) police station was cheated of Rs 94,103 in an online fraud. The complainant, Constable Sachin Chavan, 52, fell victim when a caller falsely claimed to have mistakenly transferred Rs 30,000 into his account and requested the amount back.

According to the FIR, Chavan, posted at the BKC police station for the past six months, received the call on September 9 at 7.46 pm. The caller said the money was meant for a hospital and asked him to keep the line active while checking bank messages. Chavan then found a message confirming Rs 30,000 had been credited. The caller provided an account number, asking him to first transfer Rs 5,000 and promising further details for the balance.

Chavan transferred Rs 5,000 and shared a screenshot. Soon after, the caller sent a link, instructing him to press it twice and enter a code. Chavan complied, resulting in Rs 77,091 and later Rs 12,012 being debited from his account. A case was registered under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, on October 1.

Pune: MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Mumbai, should announce assistance for farmers who faced losses due to the recent floods in Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters here, Raut said the Central government should have declared a relief package for farmers.

Earlier this week, Fadnavis said that rains and floods had damaged 60 lakh hectares of land in Maharashtra, as per the initial estimate, and the government has decided to extend all benefits and measures usually provided during drought to the affected people.

He, however, didn’t declare a “wet drought” as demanded by the Opposition, saying no such provision exists in the official manual.

Raut said, “A relief package for farmers should have been announced from Delhi. The prime minister should announce assistance for flood-affected farmers during his visit to Mumbai.”

He further slammed Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam over his claims about a delay in the announcement of party founder Bal Thackeray’s death in 2012.

“Ramdas Kadam was never a trustworthy person. Uddhav Thackeray got him elected to the legislative council twice. What contributions have Neelam Gorhe and Kadam made to the party? They should be grateful to Uddhav Thackeray,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.

Kadam on Thursday claimed that Bal Thackeray’s body was kept at his Mumbai home for two days before the announcement of his death in 2012.

He also alleged that the party founder’s fingerprints were taken after his death.

Raut said, “I was present during Balasaheb’s final moments. Kadam’s claim is an example of how low a person can stoop for position and money. Those who have left the party can never remain loyal to Balasaheb or truly consider him their guiding figure.”