Mumbai Muharram Procession Plot: According to the Mumbai Police, a 39-year-old man from Pune has been arrested for allegedly planning to distribute capsules containing a poisonous substance during a Muharram procession in South Mumbai.
Police said the capsules were allegedly presented as painkillers to procession participants. Authorities stated that timely intervention by volunteers and police personnel helped prevent a potentially serious public safety incident.
The investigation is ongoing, and officials are continuing to verify all aspects of the case.
The Incident: What Happened During the Byculla Muharram Procession?
Mumbai Muharram Procession Plot: The incident took place during a traditional Muharram procession in Mumbai’s Byculla area.
As is common during such religious gatherings, volunteers were distributing drinking water, refreshments and basic over-the-counter medicines to participants.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly took advantage of this setting and distributed capsules claiming they were painkillers meant to relieve physical fatigue.
Police said several participants consumed the capsules before some of them started complaining of nausea, stomach pain and vomiting. A 26-year-old participant, identified as Salman Sayyad, was among those who reportedly fell ill.
The affected individuals were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals. According to medical officials and police, those admitted received timely treatment and are currently reported to be out of danger.
Police Raid Leads to Recovery of Thousands of Capsules
Mumbai Muharram Procession Plot: After multiple participants fell ill, volunteers alerted police personnel deployed at the procession.
Initial inquiries led investigators to a guest house in Mumbai’s Dongri area, where the accused had allegedly been staying for nearly 15 days.
During the search, police said they recovered around 30,000 capsules from the room.
According to investigators, preliminary examination indicated that nearly 14,900 capsules were suspected to contain zinc phosphide, a highly toxic chemical commonly used as a rodenticide.
Officials have said that forensic examination of the recovered material is continuing.
Who Is Fayyaz Premji?
Police identified the arrested person as Fayyaz Premji, a resident of Viman Nagar in Pune and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) graduate.
According to investigators, he had previously worked in his family’s paint manufacturing business.
Some media reports, quoting people familiar with the accused, claim he had experienced personal difficulties following the breakdown of his marriage. However, no official medical assessment regarding his mental health has been released by the authorities.
What Police Say About the Alleged Motive
According to Mumbai Police, during preliminary questioning the accused allegedly stated that he wanted to “take revenge” on society.
Police also claim he spoke about intending to cause large-scale harm during the procession.
These statements are part of the ongoing police investigation and have not been tested or established in a court of law.
Investigation Into Planning and Procurement
Police allege that the accused researched the effects of poisonous substances online before procuring approximately 50 kilograms of zinc phosphide and around 30,000 empty capsules through online purchases.
According to investigators, each capsule was allegedly filled with nearly one gram of the toxic substance.
Police further claim that some local women volunteers unknowingly helped distribute the capsules after allegedly being told they were ordinary medicines meant to assist procession participants.
Authorities have not accused those volunteers of knowingly participating in any criminal act.
Police Examining Travel History
Investigators are also examining the accused’s travel history, digital devices, financial records and communications as part of the ongoing probe.
According to police, the accused had travelled to Iran and Iraq multiple times between 2019 and 2025. Officials are verifying whether these visits have any relevance to the present case.
As of now, authorities have not announced any confirmed link between the accused and any foreign organisation or network.
Investigation Continues
A case has been registered at the Byculla Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police said the investigation is continuing to determine the complete sequence of events, verify forensic findings and establish whether any other individuals were involved.
Authorities have urged the public to rely only on official updates, noting that several aspects of the case remain under investigation.
Legal Disclaimer: The investigation into the incident is currently ongoing. In accordance with the principles of the justice system, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The information presented in this article is based entirely on preliminary police reports, official statements by law enforcement authorities, and initial media coverage.
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