Mumbai Police said they have foiled a plan that could have put thousands of lives at risk during a Muharram procession. A Muslim man was arrested after police recovered 14,900 capsules filled with zinc phosphide, a highly toxic substance. According to investigators, the capsules were meant to be distributed among people attending the procession, where around 30,000 people had gathered.
Capsules were being given out as medicine
The case came to light after police received information during the procession that a man was handing out capsules, claiming they were medicines. Around the same time, a person complained of vomiting and severe stomach pain after consuming one of the capsules, raising suspicion.
Police quickly detained the suspect and began questioning him. During the investigation, officials found that the capsules contained zinc phosphide, a poison that can be fatal even in small quantities. The man who reportedly fell ill has been identified as Salman Saiyed.
The accused had prepared thousands of poison capsules
The accused has been identified as Faiyaz Premji, also known as Fayyaz Nisar Hussain Premji, a resident of Viman Nagar in Pune. He has a BBA degree and runs a paint business. Police said he had shifted to a rented room in Mumbai’s Dongri area around 15 days before the incident.
Investigators say he had purchased nearly 50 kilograms of zinc phosphide and spent several days filling capsules with about one gram of the poison. Police believe he was planning to prepare nearly 30,000 capsules, but only 14,900 had been filled before his arrest.
Passport and travel history under investigation
During the search, police recovered the accused’s Aadhaar card and passport. Officials also found that he had travelled to Iran and Iraq in 2025. Investigators are now examining those visits to find out whether they have any connection with the case.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Jayant Meena said the suspect was caught while distributing capsules without any permission during the Muharram procession. He added that the investigation is continuing from every possible angle to determine whether anyone else was involved. Police believe their quick action stopped the capsules from reaching the crowd and prevented what could have been a large-scale loss of life.
