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Supreme Court denies bail to doctor in cough syrup death case

The Supreme Court has rejected a bail plea from a paediatrician accused of prescribing a contaminated cough syrup that allegedly caused the deaths of 26 children in Madhya Pradesh. Dr Praveen Soni faces charges related to continued prescription of the medication despite safety concerns.

LSN India · 6 November 2026

Supreme Court denies bail to doctor in cough syrup death case

The Supreme Court has refused bail to paediatrician Dr Praveen Soni, who is accused of prescribing Coldrif cough syrup in connection with the deaths of 26 children in Madhya Pradesh. The court's decision to reject the bail plea marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the contaminated medication.

Soni stands accused of continuing to prescribe the syrup even after concerns about its safety had emerged. The deaths, which occurred in the central Indian state, triggered a major public health inquiry and sparked widespread scrutiny of pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution practices.

The case has drawn considerable attention to questions surrounding the regulation of over-the-counter medicines and the responsibilities of medical practitioners in ensuring patient safety. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution of the cough syrup implicated in the deaths.

The Supreme Court's rejection of bail indicates the seriousness with which the judiciary is treating the case. The matter remains under investigation, with authorities pursuing multiple angles related to the contamination and distribution of the medication that allegedly caused the deaths.