The Supreme Court of India on Friday (October 10) dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari, which sought a CBI investigation into the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly caused by the consumption of toxic cough syrups.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran refused to entertain the plea, observing that State authorities were competent to investigate the matter and were already taking necessary action.

Appearing for the Union of India, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed the petition, submitting that the petitioner had made a habit of filing PILs based solely on media reports.

“How many PILs have you filed?” the CJI asked.
“Eight or nine,” replied Advocate Vishal Tiwari.

Following this exchange, the Bench dismissed the petition, declining to interfere in the ongoing State-level investigations.

The PIL was filed in the backdrop of recent child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, allegedly linked to cough syrups containing Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) — toxic chemicals that have previously caused fatal poisoning incidents in India and abroad.

Tiwari’s petition had sought the formation of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to conduct an independent inquiry into the manufacture, testing, and distribution of such contaminated cough syrups.

It also requested that all FIRs and investigations across various States concerning child deaths from poisonous cough syrups be transferred to the CBI under the supervision of a former Supreme Court judge, to ensure a coordinated and impartial probe.

Further, the plea sought urgent directions to recall, seize, and prohibit the sale and distribution of Coldrif Cough Syrup and any other products manufactured by Sresan Pharma Pvt. Ltd. or its related entities. It also called for toxicological testing of the products by NABL-accredited laboratories before allowing further sale or export.

Rejecting the plea, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its consistent stance that PILs cannot be entertained when competent State authorities are already addressing the issue and that petitions based solely on newspaper reports lack substantial legal basis.

Case Title: Vishal Tiwari v. Union of India & Ors.
Case No.: W.P. (C) No. 971/2025