FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 123 | INDORE | FRIDAY | OCTOBER 10, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Junior shuttlers assure maiden medal in thrilling comeback win P.14 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE WORLD ISRAEL, GAZA ERUPT IN JOY UJJAIN PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Cinema Priyanka celebrates Karwa Chauth P.16 KILLER COUGH SYRUP FACTORY OWNER HELD Our Staff Reporter The owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the toxic Coldrif cough syrup linked to the deaths of several children in Chhindwara, was arrested from Chennai late Wednesday night. SP Chhindwara Ajay Pandey said the accused, G. Ranganathan, was taken into custody from his residence in Kodambakkam by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Madhya Pradesh, with assistance from Chennai’s Ashok Nagar police. He has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration and violations under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Ranganathan’s arrest follows a two-day search operation across Chennai and Kancheepuram. The SIT has also inspected the company’s manufacturing unit in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram district. Ranganathan is expected to reach Chhindwara on Friday after the court granted transit remand. 4Continued on | P8 INDORE METRO @RADISSION SQUARE PG-3 Israel, Hamas ink peace deal, Modi congratulates Don Agencies JERUSALEM Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated US President Donald Trump on the success of the Gaza peace plan that the American leader had proposed in a major step to end a war that has killed tens of thousands of people. In a post on X, PM Modi also announced he discussed India-US trade negotiations with Trump, and indicated more activity in the coming weeks. "Spoke to my friend, President Trump and congratulated him on the success of the historic Gaza peace plan. Also reviewed the good progress achieved in trade negotiations. Agreed to stay in close touch over the coming weeks." the prime minister said. Earlier, Israel confirmed that all parties have signed the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. 4Continued on | P8 Spoke to my friend, President Trump and congratulated him on the success of the historic Gaza peace plan. Also reviewed the good progress in trade negotiations Narendra Modi Prime Minister TN govt not cooperating: Yadav Licence given to firm without inquiry Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL TOLL RISES TO 22 The toll rose to 22 after two more children from Chhindwara district died due to suspected kidney failure linked to the syrup. On Thursday, oneyear-seven-month-old Garvit Pawar of Mordongari Khurd in Parasia passed away, while Mayank Suryavanshi died in Nagpur. Of the 22 victims, 19 were from Chhindwara, two from Betul, and one from Pandhurna. Three others remain critical in Nagpur Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has targeted the Tamil Nadu government in connection with the deaths of 22 children due to adulterated cough syrup, saying the state government is not properly cooperating with the inquiry team. The drug controller of Tamil Nadu should test the drugs according to rules, and the government should act strongly against the culprits, he said. EARLY WARNINGS IGNORED BY ADMIN SC TO HEAR PLEA WITHIN 24 HRS 364 VIOLATIONS FOUND AT FIRM CDSCO BEGINS AUDIT DRIVE Locals allege the Chhindwara administration ignored early alerts about the toxic cough syrup that killed several children. A Nagpurbased doctor had raised concerns on September 16 after treating children with kidney failure from Chhindwara. Despite social media posts and messages to officials, no action followed. Testing was delayed as syrup samples were sent by post, leading to tragic, preventable deaths. Pg-5 The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hold an urgent hearing within 24 hours on a PIL seeking an independent probe into deaths of children caused by poisonous cough syrup in MP. The petition seeks a court-monitored investigation into the incident and formation of a National Judicial Commission or an expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to ensure impartiality and accountability Sresan Pharma, responsible for the cough syrup tragedy, was found supplying syrup without testing. The company's owner, Ranganathan Govindan, had been on the run but was arrested in Chennai. Investigations revealed 364 violations at its Tamil Nadu plant, including 38 serious ones. Sresan’s license, issued in 2011 and renewed in 2016, has been revoked, and all products banned. The CDSCO has launched a nationwide drive to test, inspect, and audit syrup manufacturers. States and UTs have been asked to submit lists of manufacturers. The DCGI also urged strict testing of raw materials and final products. So far, 18 states have joined the ONDLS platform, but none have fully complied with CAPA guidelines aimed at ensuring pharmaceutical safety and quality. CM Mohan Yadav meets children undergoing treatment at Nagpur hospital on Thursday. BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal accompanied him. 4Continued on | P8 MODI, STARMER SEAL NEW ERA UK charts deeper trade, education, defence ties as PMs push for rapid FTA rollout SMOOTH RIDE Dhairya Gajara and Ashwin Ahmad MUMBAI/NEW DELHI PM Modi on Thursday urged visiting UK PM Keir Starmer to act firmly, “within the ambit of law”, against Khalistani extremist elements operating from British soil, even as both leaders showcased an expansive new phase in India–UK cooperation spanning defence, education, technology and trade. Starmer, on a two-day visit to Mumbai with a 126-member business and education delegation, signalled London’s support for India’s permanent seat on the UN Security ‘Join India’s growth story’ Addressing Global Fintech Fest, PM Modi invited global businesses to participate in India's growth story. "We have to create a fintech world where technology, people and planet can all prosper. The goal of innovation should not be just growth but also goodness.” Council and pitched the UK as a long-term partner in New Delhi’s ‘Vikasit Bharat’ vision. Briefing reporters after the talks at Raj Bhavan, For- Raid on ex-PWD chief engineer unearths assets worth Rs 60 cr Assets over 25 times of known income unearthed JEWELLERY THEFT 2 arrested, gold worth Rs 3.45cr recovered Our Staff Reporter Our Staff Reporter 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 BHOPAL BHOPAL The Special Police Establishment (SPE), Lokayukta police, Bhopal raided four premises of retired Public Works Department engineer-in-chief (ENC) Govind Prasad Mehra and found disproportionate assets worth Rs 60 crore. The investigation revealed that Mehra amassed wealth far in excess of his legal income through rampant corruption during his career. In the raids assets, jewellery, factories and investments worth Rs 60 crores were found. The teams simultaneously raided his residence in Bhopal, A-6 Mannipuram Colony, his son Rohit’s flat number 508 in Opal Regency in Dana Pani, eign Secretary Vikram Misri said India reiterated its “serious concerns” over proKhalistan activity abroad. WARRANT DEMANDED As the team arrived at his residence in Mannipuram on Thursday morning for the raid, Mehra asked for a warrant. The Lokayukta police had already made all the preparations, so the team presented the permission and warrant. The team then confiscated the mobile phones of everyone present in the house and began the search. During this time, all family members and servants present were prevented from leaving. In a major breakthrough, Nishatpura police on Thursday arrested two persons and recovered stolen jewellery worth about Rs 3.45 crore, including 3.33 kg of gold, 803 grammes of silver and Rs 4.5 lakh in cash. According to reports, complainant Rambabu Rathore, owner of a jewellery shop at Chhola Mandir, lodged a report stating that he sells gold and silver ornaments in various cities. On Monday, he left for Bina (Sagar district) with a bag full of jewellery, but returned to Bhopal due to heavy rain. Around 11 pm, he stopped at a roadside dhaba in Bhanpur for dinner and liquor. Feeling dizzy, he parked his car near a showroom in Karond and fell asleep on the driver’s seat. 4Continued on | P8 E-paper Edit God, gold and political games P.6 COUGH SYRUP DEATHS | G. Ranganathan has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, adulteration, violations under Drugs and Cosmetics Act BHOPAL MUMBAI SC sets mid-Nov hearing as state seeks more time on OBC quota Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The state government has again requested more time from the Supreme Court for implementing 27% OBC reservation, even after the court flagged concern about delays. The apex court has now scheduled the final hearing for mid-November. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said several technical issues require detailed consideration and suggested exploring alternate methods to resolve the matter efficiently. Senior advocate Varun Thakur said, “The SC observed that cases could be remanded to MP High Court, as the government repeatedly seeks time. Many students are still awaiting appointment letters under the 87:13 formula, with 13% of posts left unfilled.” Senior advocate, Rameshwar Thakur, said, “Even after the Supreme Court’s observations against the state government, it once again sought time in the name of final hearing. On Wednesday, the SC indicated it could either provide interim relief or directly refer the matter to the High Court. The High Court is better positioned to understand the state’s demographics and circumstances, making it more suitable to handle this statespecific reservation issue. While the Indira Sawhney judgment is relevant, the High Court has a better understanding of the local population and context.” IMC council passes proposal to disqualify Congress corporator Our staff reporter INDORE In a first-of-its-kind move, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) council on Thursday passed a proposal to disqualify a corporator accused of funding alleged “love jihad” activities in the city. The proposal, targeting Congress corporator Anwar Qadri, was approved by more than a two-thirds majority during the council meeting. The decision marks the first instance in IMC’s history where such a disqualification proposal has been tabled and passed, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav said. Before the proposal was introduced, Congress corporators ‘LOVE JIHAD’ FUNDING staged a walkout, protesting the council’s decision to pass several items through a voice vote without discussion. Mayor Bhargav said that under a 2003 amendment, any corporator whose actions are deemed detrimental to the civic body or the city’s interests can be disqualified by a two-thirds vote of the council. “Qadri has been found involved in funding ‘love jihad’ and participating in anti-national activities. He does not deserve to remain a corporator,” Bhargav stated during the meeting. 4Continued on | P8