By Admin 
Samajwadi Party (SP) national president and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav has launched a scathing attack on the central and state governments over the illegal trade of cough syrup containing codeine in the state. On Saturday (January 10) in Lucknow, he questioned why the people involved in this racket were not being investigated by any central agency.
Akhilesh Yadav said that the people involved in the codeine-laced cough syrup racket have accumulated assets worth about Rs 800 crore, yet agencies like ED or CBI are not investigating them. He sarcastically asked why ED becomes active only in those states where elections are being held. He said that if the agencies are impartial, then why this big cough syrup case is not being investigated.
Accusations and counter-allegations intensify between BJP and SP
There has been a long-running round of allegations and counter-allegations between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition parties, especially the Samajwadi Party, regarding the illegal trade of codeine cough syrup. Recently, this issue was also raised loudly in the winter session of the Assembly. SP MLAs had demonstrated and created ruckus inside and outside the House regarding this matter.
Yogi government’s reply and claim of investigation
On December 19, 2025, the first day of the assembly session, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that a state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) is working to investigate this matter. This SIT includes officers associated with Uttar Pradesh Police and Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA). The Chief Minister had said that the investigation will reveal to whom the money from illegal business has reached.
Yogi’s taunt on Akhilesh’s allegations
Taking a dig at Akhilesh Yadav’s statements, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said, “I will only say this about him, I kept committing the same mistake again and again, the dust was on my face and I kept cleaning the mirror.” He had also said that photographs of Akhilesh Yadav with the mafia are available and let the investigation be done, milk of milk and water of water will come to light.
Government figures were also put forward
While giving details of the action in the House, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that the government has registered 79 cases in this matter, 225 people have been named and 78 accused have been arrested. He had said that raids have been conducted on 134 companies and STF is investigating the transactions related to this entire network. The Chief Minister claimed that on in-depth investigation its connections with Samajwadi Party leaders or officials come to light.