Mumbai Man Arrested for Allegedly Distributing Rat Poison Capsules During Muharram

Mumbai Police successfully averted a potential mass poisoning during a solemn Muharram procession, arresting a 39-year-old Pune resident identified as Faiyaz Premji. The accused was apprehended in the Byculla area for allegedly distributing approximately 14,900 capsules containing zinc phosphide, a highly toxic chemical commonly used as rat poison. The incident unfolded on Friday evening, June 26, 2026, during the Ashura procession in South Mumbai, which was moving towards the Rehmatabad Cemetery. Premji allegedly passed off these lethal capsules as painkillers or immunity boosters to unsuspecting participants. The plot came to light after an alert police patrol team noticed his suspicious activities. Later, a 26-year-old participant named Salman Sayyad, who had consumed one of the capsules, reported severe stomach pain and vomiting, leading to his hospitalization. Doctors at the hospital, suspecting foul play, promptly alerted the police, which led to Premji's tracing and subsequent arrest on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Several other individuals also reported feeling unwell after consuming the pills, with at least 11 people falling ill. All those who sought medical attention are reported to be in stable condition. During interrogation, Premji allegedly confessed to his intention of targeting the Muharram procession and causing widespread harm. Police sources indicate he allegedly stated a desire to kill around 15,000 people. The investigation revealed that Premji had meticulously planned the act. He allegedly ordered 30,000 empty capsules and 50 kg of zinc phosphide online. He then rented a room in a guest house in Dongri, Mumbai, where he spent over 15 days filling each capsule with approximately one gram of the toxic substance. Upon searching his accommodation, police recovered the 14,900 filled capsules along with additional quantities of zinc phosphide and other materials. Zinc phosphide is a rodenticide, a highly toxic chemical that reacts with stomach acids to produce phosphine gas, which can lead to severe poisoning, multi-organ failure, and potentially death in humans. Authorities have sent the seized capsules and chemical powder to the forensic laboratory in Kalina for definitive confirmation of their composition. Premji, a 39-year-old BBA graduate from Pune, runs a paint manufacturing business with his father. His background also includes significant foreign travel, with police examining his visits to Iran and Iraq, particularly 19 trips between 2019 and 2025. His mother and sister reportedly reside in Iran. Investigators are probing whether there are any foreign links, a larger network, or even a terror angle to the alleged plot. It was also reported that Premji had developed an online presence as an outspoken critic of Islam, particularly the Khoja Shia community, to which he belongs. Furthermore, police allege he used artificial intelligence tools on his mobile phone to research the effects of consuming zinc phosphide. The swift action by the Mumbai Police, combined with the vigilance of women volunteers who found his distribution methods suspicious and the timely intervention by hospital staff, is credited with preventing a major catastrophe and mass casualties during the religious procession. Premji has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 123 (causing hurt by means of poison). The investigation is ongoing to establish the full scope of the alleged conspiracy and any other individuals involved.

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