The Madhya Pradesh government on Monday (October 6, 2025) suspended the Deputy Controller and two drug inspectors of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in connection with the death of 14 children, allegedly after consuming a cough syrup adulterated with a toxic chemical.
Deputy Controller Shobhit Kosta, drug inspectors Gaurav Sharma (Chhindwara) and Sharad Kumar Jain (Jabalpur) were suspended while Controller Dinesh Maurya was transferred following directions from Chief Minister Mohan Yadav after he held a high-level meeting, a government statement said.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Yadav said that instructions have also been issued to ban cough syrups made by two other manufacturers.
“We will not tolerate any kind of negligence with respect to matters concerning human life,” Mr. Yadav said.
While the official death toll is 14, the deaths of two other children who died in neighbouring Betul district are currently under investigation as they died with similar conditions of kidney failure. Dr. Ashok Narware, Block Medical Officer in Betul’s Amla, said that the two children had also received treatment for fever in Parasia in Chhindwara district.
