CHENNAI: A longstanding name in Tamil Nadu’s pharmaceutical industry is now at the centre of a police manhunt after being linked to the deaths of 17 children in MP after consuming .
, 73, a from Madras Medical College, built his reputation over more than four decades as the man behind Pronit, a nutritional syrup that once had a strong presence in the local market.
In the early 1980s, he personally visited paediatricians across Chennai, going door to door and explaining at length the benefits of the syrup for pregnant women.
The product quickly became popular, but its success was interrupted when the state drug control department intervened and flagged the composition for requiring govt approval.
The product was promoted as a ‘nutritional food supplement’, but the ingredients used in its making required prior approval from the state drug control department.
Ranganathan was then forced to obtain a proper licence, regularising the product.
Soon after, similar products began to emerge, and competition in the market pushed him to move into other areas, particularly liquid nasal products. He eventually expanded his business into several small manufacturing units located in and around Chennai, said M N Sridhar, a retired drug control officer.
Over the years, he came to head Sresan Pharmaceuticals and maintained association with Ceego Labs, while his close associates operated Iven Healthcare.
“Within industry circles, he earnedrecognition for mentoring younger entrepreneurs, guiding graduates who were interested in starting small-scale manufacturing ventures, and remaining visible at various conferences and meetings until very recently,” said J Jeyaselan, a Chennaibased drug manufacturer.
That professional image stands in contrast to his disappearance now. His 2,000sqft unit along the Chennai-Bengaluru highway has been sealed, and his registered office in Kodambakkam remains locked. Neighbours recall that the premises, once a busy first-floor apartment office drawing steady visitors, was cleared out only last week.
Employees were seen moving out equipment and computers late at night. A lone security guard now redirects all visitors to Ranganathan’s lawyer, who refuses to disclose any details.
Industry sources describe the turn of events as unexpected, noting that he was never associated with malpractices earlier.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
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