Mumbai Muharram Poison Capsule Case: Court Sends Accused To 2-Day Police Custody

Mumbai: A Mumbai court has remanded 39-year-old Faiyaz Premji to two days of police custody after his arrest for allegedly distributing capsules containing the highly toxic substance zinc phosphide during a Muharram procession.

Premji was arrested by the Byculla police on June 27 after investigators uncovered an alleged plot to distribute poisonous capsules among devotees participating in the procession.

The Byculla police registered a case against Premji and launched a detailed investigation. According to sources, Premji had allegedly been under severe mental stress due to family issues. However, the police have not officially confirmed this.

Police said they received information that a man was distributing capsules free of cost near Rehmatabad Kabristan Mosque during Muharram processions. A police team rushed to the spot and found that the suspect had no permission to distribute the capsules. Officers seized his Aadhaar card, voter identity card and other documents.

Meanwhile, a youth who allegedly consumed one of the capsules fell ill and was shifted to Habib Hospital. Based on his complaint, the police registered an FIR and arrested Premji. The seized capsules have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to determine their composition.

Sources said that officers from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have also visited Byculla police station and are assisting in the investigation. Authorities are conducting a detailed probe to determine the motive behind the incident and whether the accused acted alone or had any accomplices.

Following the arrest, Shia leaders urged the Maharashtra government and Mumbai police to strengthen security for the remaining Muharram processions. Maulana Yasoob Abbas, general secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, said he had spoken to Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Manoj Kumar Sharma, seeking strict action. Abbas also called for a thorough probe into whether the suspect acted alone or as part of a wider conspiracy targeting religious gatherings.

He also said he had requested MLA Amin Patel to raise the issue of security in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, noting that several Muharram processions are scheduled over the coming weeks.

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