Madhya Pradesh Toxic Cough Syrup Child Deaths Case

In March 2025, over 15 children under the age of five died in the Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, India, after consuming a locally manufactured cough syrup. Investigations revealed the syrup, branded “Tussnil,” was produced by Mehta Pharmaceuticals without a valid license and contained lethal levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, industrial solvents used as a cheap substitute for pharmaceutical-grade glycerin. The company owner, Rajesh Mehta, and a state drug inspector, Anil Dwivedi, were arrested for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The syrup was widely sold in rural areas, and the deaths exposed severe gaps in India’s drug supply chain surveillance. Families of the victims filed public interest litigation, leading to a fast-track trial.

In September 2026, a special court in Bhopal convicted Rajesh Mehta on multiple counts of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Anil Dwivedi received a 10-year sentence for corruption and abetment. Mehta Pharmaceuticals was fined 50 crore rupees and permanently shut down. The court ordered compensation of 20 lakh rupees to each bereaved family. Two other employees received 7-year terms for adulteration.

Whether the pharmaceutical company and its director could be held liable for murder or culpable homicide not amounting to murder, given that the contamination was deliberate and driven by profit. Also contested was the extent of state regulatory liability, as the drug inspector allegedly accepted bribes to ignore the missing license and quality tests. The defense argued that the deaths resulted from a systemic failure rather than direct intent to kill, seeking reduction of charges to negligence under the Drugs Act.

The case triggered nationwide outrage and led to the Indian government mandating stricter quality testing for all pediatric cough syrups, requiring batch-level chromatography tests before distribution. The state of Madhya Pradesh established a special task force for pharmaceutical crime. Campaigns demanding capital punishment for drug adulteration gained momentum, and the Supreme Court issued guidelines to fast-track trials involving contaminated medical products. The scandal severely damaged India's reputation as the “pharmacy of the world,” prompting over 40 countries to tighten import inspections of Indian-made drugs.