New details have emerged in the investigation into the alleged mass poisoning plot during Mumbai's Muharram procession when the accused spent more than two weeks to prepare thousands of poison-filled capsules in a cheap hotel in Dongri, police say, and then distribute them to religious members of the procession.
Fayyaz Premji had checked into a hotel in Dongri about two weeks before the Muharram procession, investigators say. During his stay, he ordered 30,000 empty capsules and nearly 50 kilograms of zinc phosphide, a highly toxic rodenticide commonly used as rat poison, through an online site, the court said. Police believe he filled the capsules in his hotel room over several days.
A search of the hotel room led to the recovery of 14,900 capsules containing zinc phosphide, along with all the remaining chemical stock and other materials, which are now in forensic analysis. In total, investigators suspect that the accused wanted to prepare 30,000 capsules.
Police say Premji told them and later admitted during the interrogations that he intended to distribute the capsules as pain relief medicine among participants in the Muharram procession and that he wanted to kill nearly 15,000 people. The purported confession will be part of the investigation and will be reviewed along with other evidence, said police.
The case came out after some of the participants took capsules that were supposed to be painkillers in the procession. The patients later reported nausea, vomiting and stomach distress, so doctors contacted the police. Officers quickly identified the capsules to the accused, who investigators believe prevented a far larger tragedy.
The investigation has now extended beyond the alleged poisoning attempt. Police have found phone numbers linked to Iran and Iraq from the accused’s mobile phone and are investigating whether they are linked to the case. So far there hasn’t been any foreign connection, the officials said, and all angles are being investigated jointly by the Mumbai Police, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and intelligence agencies.
Investigators also visited the family members of the accused in Pune. They said relatives told investigators they had not been in contact with him for a long time. Premji might have suffered depression after his wife left him almost two years ago, police said, but this is only one aspect of the investigation and has not been established as a motive.
The accused has been booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including attempt to murder and administering poison. Now investigators are checking his financial records, online purchases, digital devices, travel history and communications to see if he was acting alone or received help.
Investigators maintained that the investigation is still at an early stage and there are still potential motives for the incident and such a conspiracy (including a wider conspiracy) is still under investigation.
