The arrest was made on Friday night (June 26, 2026) during the Ashura procession in the Byculla area.
Police officers observed a person distributing capsules to the crowd.
This person was distributing some capsules in the procession.
We took the person distributing the capsules during the procession into custody,” DCP Meena added.
He stated that the accused told people in the procession that the capsules would work as painkillers and was distributing them.
After several individuals reported feeling unwell on Monday (June 29, 2026) in the Byculla area, the Mumbai police arrested a 39-year-old man from Pune for distributing capsules containing a rodent poison, zinc phosphide, to participants of a Muharram procession.
The suspect, identified as Faiyaz Nisar Premji, a resident of Viman Nagar in Pune, was taken into custody following a complaint filed by a woman who observed the distribution. The police have seized 14,900 capsules and 50 kg of the chemical powder from his possession.
The matter came to light after an MLC (Medico-Legal Case) report was filed at a hospital, reflecting the reaction of individuals who consumed the pills.
The arrest was made on Friday night (June 26, 2026) during the Ashura procession in the Byculla area. Police officers observed a person distributing capsules to the crowd. When questioned, Premji claimed the capsules were painkillers. However, the absence of any authorisation for such distribution and subsequent reports of individuals experiencing vomiting and nausea led to his detention.
Police statement
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 3, Jayant Meena, confirmed the sequence of events. “A Muharram procession was underway in the Bhaykhala police station area on Friday night. During this, a suspect was seen by the Mumbai police. This person was distributing some capsules in the procession. This raised suspicion. When we questioned him, he said he was distributing painkiller pills. However, since he was distributing such pills without any permission, we seized all the material from him,” Ms. Meena stated
“After that, his personal information, including his Aadhaar card, mobile phone, and passport, was seized. Around 4 in the morning, a complaint came to the police station about a person experiencing stomach pain and vomiting. This strengthened our suspicion, and a police team was immediately dispatched. We took the person distributing the capsules during the procession into custody,” DCP Meena added.
The officer provided further details on the investigation. “During questioning, the accused confessed that he aimed to target specific people and cause them harm. The accused, identified as Faiyaz Premji, had ordered 30,000 empty capsules online. He also ordered 50 kg of zinc phosphide. He prepared the capsules by filling each one with one gram of zinc phosphide and had planned to target certain individuals,” Ms. Meena explained.
He stated that the accused told people in the procession that the capsules would work as painkillers and was distributing them. “However, due to the alertness of Mumbai police, this plot has been foiled,” Ms. Meena said.
Regarding the suspect’s background, Meena confirmed that the accused is from the Viman Nagar area in Pune and that he had visited Iran and Iraq in 2025. The police are continuing their investigation into all possible connections.
Premji, who holds a BBA degree, comes from a business family; his father is the owner of a paint company in Pune. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
