Man Tried to Kill 30,000 People during Muharram Celebrations: Arrested by Mumbai Police
Mumbai Police foiled an alleged mass poisoning plot after arresting a Pune businessman accused of distributing poison-filled capsules during the Muharram procession in Byculla.
A major tragedy was narrowly avoided during the Muharram procession in Mumbai's Byculla after police arrested a 39-year-old businessman from Pune, Faiyaz Premji, for allegedly trying to distribute poison-filled capsules to the crowd.
Police say Faiyaz rented a room in Dongri about two weeks before the procession, where he allegedly filled around 30,000 empty medicine capsules with zinc phosphide, a highly toxic rat poison.
On 26 June 2026, as nearly 30,000 people gathered for the procession, he allegedly handed out the capsules, claiming they were medicines such as painkillers or immunity boosters. In some places, he reportedly threw them into the crowd, calling them "chocolates" to encourage people to pick them up.
The plot was uncovered when three women volunteers became suspicious and alerted the police after opening one capsule and noticing unusual powder inside. Officers immediately detained Faiyaz and warned the public through loudspeakers not to consume any capsules.
Police said 11 people had already swallowed the capsules and were rushed to hospital. All are reported to be out of danger.
A search of Faiyaz's rented room led to the recovery of nearly 14,900 poison-filled capsules. Investigators are also examining his repeated trips to Iran and Iraq, along with his phone, financial records and contacts, to determine whether he acted alone. However, police have not confirmed any terror or international link so far.
According to Mumbai Police, Faiyaz allegedly confessed that he intended to kill around 15,000 people, though his motive remains unclear. He has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for attempt to murder and administering poison, and has been remanded to police custody as the investigation continues.
