BHOPAL: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the killer cough syrup tragedy that claimed the lives of 24 children in Madhya Pradesh arrested Jyoti Soni, wife of arrested govt doctor Praveen Soni, from Parasia in Chhindwara district on Monday.Soni, who ran a medical store in her name, had been on the run for weeks after her husband’s arrest. She is accused of tampering and destroying key evidence related to the sale and distribution of Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals. The toxic batch of the syrup was found to contain 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG) — an industrial solvent that caused acute kidney failure and death among children.

Confirming the arrest, SDOP Parasia Jitendra Jaat, who heads the SIT, told TOI, “She was arrested from Parasia and will be produced before court on Tuesday. She was absconding and visited several places like Bengaluru after the incident. Acting on a tip-off, she was arrested on Monday. She is the seventh accused in the case. Detailed investigations are going on.” Those arrested earlier include Sresan Pharmaceuticals owner G Ranganathan, company chemist K Maheswari, doctor Praveen Soni, a local pharmacist, a medicine wholesaler, and a Chhindwara-based medical representative linked to the defunct firm.