A 39-year-old businessman from Pune is at the centre of an alleged poisoning plot that police say targeted members of the Shia community during Muharram in Mumbai.
According to investigators quoted by The Indian Express, Faiyaz Premji moved through crowds gathered in South Mumbai on Ashura, distributing capsules that he allegedly described as pain relief medicine. Police claim the capsules contained zinc phosphide, a toxic rodenticide, and allege that nearly 14,000 such capsules had been prepared for distribution.
The case has drawn attention to Premji's public journey over the past decade, from a self-described reformist within the Khoja Shia community to an outspoken critic of Shia Islam.
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Early involvement in community reform
Premji belongs to the Khoja Shia community, which has roots in Gujarat and Kutch. In various interviews and online appearances, he said his family later settled in Pune and also referred to family connections in Hyderabad.
According to his own accounts quoted by The Indian Express, questioning religious practices began early in his life. He said that around 2015 and 2016, he became associated with a small group of Khoja Shias in Mumbai who advocated religious reforms.
“I tried to explain to people that the conservative version of Islam we were following was wrong. We believed we should become reformists. But our community was so conservative that they simply would not let go of that mindset,” he said in an interview, per The Indian Express.
Growing differences and social media presence
People who knew him during that period said he struggled to find wider support.
“He was part of a small group of Khoja individuals in Mumbai who had several grievances against the community. He tried to mobilise people but found little support. Around that time, he had also become active on social media, posting videos critical of the community,” a person familiar with those developments told The Indian Express.
Premji later alleged that complaints were filed against him, his business was damaged and that he faced social isolation.
Move to Iran and police investigation
By 2019, Premji said he had left Islam and began identifying himself as an atheist and ex-Muslim. He later moved to Iran, believing the country was moving towards reform.
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However, he later said that he found Iran to be “exactly the same, perhaps even worse” than the religious conservatism he believed he had left behind.
Over the years, he appeared on several online platforms discussing religion and his personal experiences. Mumbai Police are now investigating what may have led to the alleged poisoning plot and whether anyone else was involved in its planning.
FAQs:
Who is Faiyaz Premji?
He is a Pune-based businessman accused in the alleged Muharram poisoning case.
What are police investigating in the case?
Police are examining the alleged poisoning plot, its motive and whether others were involved.
