A 39-year-old man from Pune has been arrested for allegedly distributing capsules laced with a highly toxic substance during a Muharram procession in Mumbai’s Byculla area, in what authorities describe as a deliberate attempt to cause mass harm.
The accused, identified as Fayyaz Premji, a resident of Viman Nagar in Pune, confessed to investigators that he sought revenge against the world following his separation from his wife two years earlier. He reportedly believed that everyone had conspired against him and aimed to inflict widespread casualties during the religious gathering, potentially targeting thousands of participants.
Investigators recovered nearly 30,000 empty and filled capsules from his possession at a guest house in Dongri where he had been staying for over two weeks. Of these, approximately 14,900 capsules were already packed with zinc phosphide, a potent rodenticide. Premji had reportedly procured around 50 kilograms of the chemical and 30,000 capsules online, methodically filling each with about one gram of the poison.
The incident occurred on Friday evening during the Muharram procession that started at Noor Baug in Dongri and moved towards Rehmat Baug Kabrastan via Hancock Bridge. As is traditional, volunteers were distributing food, water, juices, and medicines to participants. A complainant, a 26-year-old man from Govandi, reported being offered capsules by an individual in a burqa, presented as painkillers for discomfort from ritual observances. Several devotees consumed them.
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Soon after, affected individuals began experiencing nausea, uneasiness, and discomfort. Police initially detained Premji briefly during the procession, recorded his details, and released him. However, as more reports of fainting emerged overnight into Saturday morning, officers raided the guest house and arrested him. The seized materials have been sent for forensic analysis.
Premji, who holds a BBA degree and works at his father’s paint manufacturing unit in Pune, was produced before a court and remanded to police custody. Authorities are examining his background, including family ties—his mother and sister reside in Iran, with whom he maintained regular contact. His mobile phone has undergone forensic examination. Investigators are also probing how he obtained the poison and whether he received any psychiatric treatment, noting signs of mental distress during questioning.
Medical experts explain that zinc phosphide reacts with stomach acids to produce phosphine gas, leading to oxygen deprivation in cells, potential multi-organ failure, and possibly death. Premji has been charged under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for attempted murder, culpable homicide, and causing hurt by poison.
The case continues to be investigated, with further details expected as authorities piece together the full sequence of events.