Pune Poisoning Plot: 700-Page Chargesheet Filed in Plot to Poison 15,000 During Muharram Procession
(Representative Image / Stock Photo)
Pune Poisoning Plot: Mumbai Police have filed a 700-page chargesheet against a 39-year-old Pune resident accused of plotting to poison thousands during a Muharram procession in June.The case has drawn widespread attention due to the scale of the alleged public safety threat.
Pune Poisoning Plot: The Accused
The accused has been identified as Fayyaz Premji, 39, a resident of Viman Nagar in Pune. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and runs a paint manufacturing business. He is divorced and is currently lodged in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.
Police have booked him for attempt to murder under Section 123 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with causing hurt by means of poison with intent to commit an offence.
What the Chargesheet Alleges
According to the chargesheet, Premji distributed capsules to participants during a Muharram procession in the Byculla area of Mumbai on June 26, claiming they were painkillers and immunity boosters.
Key Details:
- Police seized 14,900 capsules containing zinc phosphide
- The accused allegedly ordered 30,000 empty capsules and over 50 kg of zinc phosphide
- The chargesheet includes statements from more than 30 witnesses
How the Plot Was Prepared
Investigators say Premji checked into a lodge in the Dongri area of Mumbai about two weeks before the incident, where he allegedly filled the capsules one by one in his room. Each capsule contained approximately 1 gram of zinc phosphide.
Zinc phosphide is a highly toxic rodenticide. When ingested, it reacts with stomach acid to release phosphine gas, which attacks cells and vital organs. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and in severe cases it can lead to pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, and liver or kidney failure. Even a few hundred milligrams can be fatal.
How the Plan Was Stopped
During the procession, three women volunteers noticed Premji’s suspicious behaviour while distributing capsules and alerted the police. Officers detained him on the spot, stopping him before he could distribute more capsules.
At least 10 people consumed the capsules, but only 2 approached the police after developing symptoms. One of them, a 26-year-old man identified as Salman Sayyed, fell ill and was hospitalised after vomiting. He is now out of danger.
Alleged Motive
The chargesheet states that the accused harboured grievances against certain individuals from his community, and a personal dispute may have been the motive.
Investigations also revealed that Premji had travelled to Iran and Iraq multiple times between 2019 and 2025, with 19 trips in the past year alone. His mother and sister live in Iran. Police are examining his international travel records, financial transactions, and digital communications to determine whether a larger network or external links exist.
Background
Neighbours told investigators that Premji’s mental state deteriorated after his wife left him two years ago. Police sources said he may have been depressed. He had reportedly conducted extensive searches on Google and AI tools about the dosage effects of zinc phosphide on the human body.
Legal Status
The chargesheet was recently submitted before a Mazgaon court. The seized capsules have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for chemical analysis, and preliminary tests confirmed the presence of zinc phosphide. Police have stated that a supplementary chargesheet will be filed once the laboratory report is received.
The case is still under trial. The allegations are the prosecution’s claims and have not been proven in court. The accused is presumed innocent until convicted under law.
What This Means for Public Safety
The Pune Poisoning Plot has raised serious questions about security at large public gatherings. Authorities are
Also read :-pune-water-supply-2026
