Lucknow, Nov. 30 -- First Information Reports were filed against 11 firms in six districts on November 28 and 29 in connection with the codeine-based cough syrup nexus. With this, the total number of FIRs filed in connection with the nexus has gone up to 98 in Uttar Pradesh.

This tally includes 28 cases in Varanasi, 16 in Jaunpur, eight in Kanpur Nagar, four in Lakhimpur Kheri, three in Lucknow and 39 in other districts - Raebareli, Chandauli, Sultanpur and Ghazipur.

Authorities have already begun cancelling licences of the involved firms under Rule 66 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, officials familiar with the matter said.

The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Uttar Pradesh, has intensified its crackdown on the illeg...