Bhopal: A district court in Madhya Pradesh has refused bail to paediatrician Dr Praveen Soni, who was arrested for allegedly prescribing the toxic Coldrif cough syrup linked to the deaths of 23 children in the state.

Police told the court that Dr Soni admitted to receiving a 10% commission from Sresan Pharmaceuticals for recommending the syrup, amounting to just Rs 2.54 per bottle sold at Rs 24.54.

Investigators said Dr Soni continued prescribing Coldrif to several children under the age of five between 24 August and 4 October, even after noticing severe side effects such as urine retention and kidney failure. The first child death was reported on 29 August, followed by another on 5 September, both showing similar symptoms.

Police informed the court that at least seven children died after consuming the syrup, while six others are undergoing treatment for kidney failure in Nagpur. Despite a December 2023 advisory from the Union Health Ministry's Directorate General of Health Services warning against prescribing Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs to children below four years, Dr Soni allegedly ignored the guidelines and continued using the syrup.

Defending his client, Dr Soni's counsel argued that Coldrif had been used for over 15 years and that the doctor was unaware of its contamination. The court, however, held that as a senior practitioner, Soni was duty-bound to stop prescribing the medicine once adverse effects surfaced.

Calling the allegations "serious and grave," the court said granting bail could allow the accused to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. His bail plea was therefore rejected on 8 October, and he was remanded to judicial custody.