Jaipur/IBNS, Oct. 4 -- The Rajasthan government has suspended drug controller Rajaram Sharma and stopped distribution of 19 medicines supplied by Jaipur-based company Kayson Pharma in the wake of two deaths in the state allegedly due to consumption of contaminated cough syrups, media reports said.

Apart from two deaths, several fell ill due to the substandard cough syrup distributed under the Chief Minister's free medicine scheme.

The government has also suspended all cough syrups containing dextromethorphan from all manufacturers as several batches failed to meet the required standard.

As per Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL), 42 out of 10,119 tested samples have been found as substandard.

Chief Minister Bhajan L...