Bhopal/Jabalpur, Feb 17 (NationPress) The Madhya Pradesh High Court has denied a regular bail request from a pharmacist implicated in the hazardous Coldrif cough syrup incident, involving pediatrician Praveen Soni, his spouse Jyoti Soni, and their nephew.

The harmful Coldrif syrup, which was prescribed by Praveen Soni, resulted in the tragic deaths of over 26 children aged between four and five years in Chhindwara district.

A panel led by Justice Pramod Kumar Agrawal stated in its ruling on February 17, 2026, that the circumstances surrounding the case did not warrant the granting of bail.

The pharmacist, who is licensed and worked at M/s Apna Medical Store owned by co-accused Jyoti Soni, dispensed Coldrif Syrup instead of the correctly prescribed Nextro-DS.

There was no record maintained for the sale of the disputed syrup, and the pharmacist was found to have destroyed critical evidence by disposing of 66 bottles of the syrup.

The court emphasized the pharmacist's duty as a technical custodian to ensure safe dispensing, accurate record-keeping, and public safety in accordance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Instead, Praveen Soni is accused of replacing the prescribed medication with Coldrif Syrup without appropriate authorization, especially for young patients, which is both illegal and medically unacceptable.

This illegal switch, compounded by breaches of licensing regulations under Rules 65(3) and 65(4), significantly contributed to the tragedy.

The cough syrup, produced by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Karnataka, was discovered to be tainted with dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent that far surpassed permissible limits, resulting in acute kidney failure among children.

The tragedy unfolded between August and October 2025, with children initially treated for common cough and fever at the Community Health Centre in Parasiya of Chhindwara district.

Madhya Pradesh authorities banned the cough syrup on October 4, 2025.

The prosecution highlighted that the pharmacist, alongside the co-accused, including the prescribing doctor who reportedly received commissions on each bottle sold, acted in collusion.

The magnitude of harm to public health, with more than 26 young lives lost and others suffering severe injuries, heavily influenced the court's decision against granting bail.

The accused has been in custody since October 13, 2025, according to the prosecution.

The court remarked that the prima facie evidence against the pharmacist is substantial, and the alleged offences under Section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, along with Sections 105, 276, and 238(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), seem valid despite the defense's claims of lack of prior knowledge regarding the adulteration or ban at the time of sale.

The state, represented by the Additional Advocate General, opposed the bail plea, with objectors advocating for more severe charges such as culpable homicide and criticizing investigative inadequacies under political influence.

The court rejected the application, clarifying that its observations pertain solely to the bail ruling and should not affect the trial's merits.

This court ruling emerges amid ongoing investigations into the 2025 cough syrup crisis, which has highlighted regulatory failures in drug manufacturing, distribution, and prescription practices, with forensic evidence confirming DEG in victims' samples bolstering the case against the involved parties.