Fayyaz Premji, identified by police as a 39-year-old Pune resident, was arrested after allegedly distributing capsules during an Ashura procession in Mumbai’s Byculla area on Friday.
The capsules were passed off as painkillers or immunity boosters, but later testing indicated they contained zinc phosphide, a toxic substance commonly used in rat poison, per investigators.
Police said the operation unfolded near the procession’s endpoint, close to Rehmatabad Cemetery, and that the accused was detained after an attendee fell sick and the matter was flagged to officers.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: DCP Central Zone-I, Jayant Meena says, "Last night, a Muharram procession was taking place within the jurisdiction of Byculla Police Station. During the procession, a suspicious individual was noticed distributing and selling capsules. Acting on suspicion, a… pic.twitter.com/rNpo7tg6T8
— IANS (@ians_india) June 27, 2026
A most curious disguise indeed
The case widened when police found that the capsules had been packaged to look like Ayurvedic health supplements, complete with batch numbers, manufacturing and expiry dates, dosage instructions, license details, and addresses in the UK and Lucknow.
Officials said Premji allegedly filled the capsules with zinc phosphide instead of leaving the chemical in its original form so its smell would not alert recipients. Investigators said he had ordered around 30,000 empty capsules and nearly 50 kg of zinc phosphide online and that he spent about 15 days preparing the tablets before the procession.
Police also recovered about 14,900 capsules from him.
More than first met the eye
Sources quoted by NDTV said Premji allegedly told others he was carrying out a “noble deed” and enlisted help from multiple people to distribute the capsules.
He allegedly confessed he “wanted to kill 15,000 people,” while police said they were examining whether others were involved in the plot. The man had initially been intercepted by police while distributing the capsules, but officers allowed him to leave after recording his details because he had claimed the pills were free painkillers and had no permission to distribute medicines.
Officers then warned members of the public not to consume the capsules and asked them to discard them or hand them over.
Mumbai Police foil MASS POISONING plot targeting Muharram procession.
— LIFE 🎶🎼🎵IS BEAUTIFUL (@DEVIKA12327912) June 28, 2026
Pune man Fayyaz Nisar Hussain Premji arrested with 14,900 zinc phosphide (rat poison) capsules + 50kg toxin. Planned 30,000 capsules to kill thousands.
One victim already ill. Iran/Iraq links probed.
Huge… pic.twitter.com/0KR7sygczq
Fortune, one dares say, intervened
The plot surfaced after at least one procession participant, Salman Mohammad Islam Sayyad, fell ill with nausea and vomiting after consuming a capsule and was taken to hospital.
Nearly a dozen people who had consumed the capsules were taken to the hospital and were later reported to be out of danger. Eleven people had deteriorated after taking the pills.
Three women volunteers helped alert police after growing suspicious. A loudspeaker announcement was made telling people not to consume the capsules. Police have since sent samples for forensic examination and secured a two-day custody remand for the accused while the probe continues.
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FAQs
Q1: What happened at the Mumbai Muharram procession?
Ans: Police allege a man distributed capsules containing zinc phosphide disguised as painkillers during a Muharram procession in Mumbai, leaving several people ill.
Q2: What is zinc phosphide and why is it dangerous?
Ans: Zinc phosphide is a highly toxic chemical commonly used in rodenticides that can cause severe poisoning and may be fatal if ingested.
