By News18,Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Copyright news18

The Rajasthan government suspended Drug Controller-II Rajaram Sharma on charges of tampering with official documents, manipulating drug definitions and shielding pharmaceutical companies. The decision comes amid an ongoing probe into the deaths of three children allegedly caused by Kayson Pharma’s cough syrup.
According to a report by News18 Hindi, Sharma allegedly created a “new definition” in official note sheets that excluded medicines with “zero content” from being classified as counterfeit—contradicting the definition laid out in Section 17(b) of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Under that original definition, any drug that does not match its declared composition (including those with no active ingredient) qualifies as counterfeit. By rewriting this rule, Sharma is accused of helping various firms, including Kayson Pharma, escape scrutiny.
Investigators say Sharma pressured his subordinate, the Additional Drug Controller, to change official documents to match this altered definition.
Evidence in the inquiry reportedly includes internally altered notesheets and communications coercing subordinates to comply.
The suspension notice was issued immediately on the instructions of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. Authorities also moved to halt distribution of the implicated syrup from Kayson Pharma while a criminal investigation is being launched.
Senior medical professionals have warned that such manipulations erode public trust in life-saving medicines.
Officials are appealing to the public to buy drugs only from licensed pharmacies and report any suspicious medicines.
The health department has vowed that all those involved, including pharma executives and other officials, will be held accountable.
Following the revelation of the matter, the Health Minister, Gajendra Singh Khimsar, directed the formation of a committee to investigate and take necessary steps in the interest of the general public. After this, the department stopped the distribution of all batches of Dextromethorphan-based medicines. Additionally, medicines from other pharmaceutical companies supplying this drug have also been halted.
Till now, nine children have died in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district over the past month and three in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in suspected cases linked to cough syrup consumption, officials confirmed. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause.