New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant bail to paediatrician Praveen Soni, who was arrested in October last year for allegedly continuing to prescribe Coldrif cough syrup linked to the deaths of 26 children in Madhya Pradesh, observing that the case was too serious to warrant his release at this stage.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana declined to entertain the plea, pointing out that charges had been framed against Soni only recently and that the stockist involved in the case was his relative, suggesting possible connections that required closer scrutiny.

"This is not a case of bail. You will have to wait. Charges have been framed just recently. And...