Mumbai cops foil plot to ‘kill 15,000’ at Muharram procession; 1 arrested

Preventing what could have led to multiple fatalities, Mumbai Police claims to have swiftly identified and arrested a man who was selling poison-laced capsules at a Muharram procession in Mumbai.

Also read: Muharram 2025 date in India, significance, how it's celebrated, how to wish

As many as 14,900 capsules, allegedly filled with poison, were recovered from him, with the accused allegedly admitting to planning to “kill at least 15,000 people.”

A case was registered against him, and the accused was sent to police custody for two days.

11 fall ill

Police said the man, identified as Faiyaz Premji, was apprehended at the Byculla area in south Mumbai on Friday (June 26) while he was distributing the tablets.

Police pursued Faiyaz after a person who consumed a pill developed adverse symptoms.

NDTV says that at least 11 people had fallen ill after consuming the pills and were rushed to a nearby hospital. All are stated to be out of danger.

Also read: Lohagad murder accused made 2,000 phone calls, met at cafe before push: Police

On being initially confronted, Faiyaz had reportedly told volunteers at the procession that the capsules were immunity boosters.

An India Today, report, however, claims that after being arrested, he allegedly admitted that his intention was to target the Muharram procession near the Rehmatabad Cemetery at Reay Road.

Wanted to kill 15,000 people

“I wanted to kill at least 15,000 people,” he allegedly told police, says NDTV.

The accused is a resident of Viman Nagar area in Pune and runs a paint business. Police say he was staying at a guest house and dormitory in Mumbai’s Dongri area.

Capsules contained zinc phosphide

Reports quoting officers involved in the investigation said that each capsule contained approximately one gram of zinc phosphide, a toxic chemical mostly used to eliminate rodents. He had reportedly procured 50 kilograms of the chemical and spent days filling the poison into the capsules, India Today said, quoting police.

Also read: Hoodie in summer helps cops crack Lohagad murder case; repeated bids come to light

Faiyaz was allegedly distributing the poisonous capsules among people at the Muharram procession when police, after learning that one person had fallen ill after taking the pill, swooped on him at 4 am on Friday.

According to India Today, police said the accused had plans to prepare nearly 30,000 capsules.

Foreign travels under scanner

He had reportedly travelled to Iran and Iraq several times between 2019 and 2025 and had travelled at least 19 times to Iraq in the last year itself.

While his sister and mother are said to be living in Iraq, investigators are trying to determine if Faiyaz’s visits had any other purpose.

The police are also examining his phone, digital records, financial transactions, and contacts to see if he was acting alone or was backed by any organisation.

Also read: Rohit Shetty firing: Shooter among 7 held from UP, Haryana; main accused still untraced

A case has been registered against the man at Byculla police Station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence). Further investigation is underway, the official added.