SC to hear plea seeking CBI probe, nationwide drug safety overhaul in cough syrup deaths

A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran, took note of the urgency flagged by petitioner and scheduled the matter for hearing on October 10.

Filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, the plea seeks a court-monitored investigation and the formation of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee led by a retired Supreme Court judge to ensure accountability.

The petition calls for all related FIRs and state-level probes to be handed over to the CBI, citing fragmented investigations and Amid growing concern over the deaths, the PIL urges the Centre to constitute a national-level body to probe systemic regulatory failures and to direct mandatory toxicological testing of all suspect drugs through NABL-accredited labs before further sale or export.

The case follows alarming reports of multiple child deaths allegedly linked to a specific brand of cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan