According to the investigation, Premji was arrested after he was caught distributing capsules allegedly containing zinc phosphide, a highly toxic chemical commonly used as rat poison, during a Muharram procession in Mumbai's Byculla area. Police sources said he later confessed that he intended to "kill 15,000 people" using the poisonous capsules.
During the investigation, police recovered nearly 15,000 capsules from the accused. They also discovered that he had ordered approximately 30,000 empty capsules and procured nearly 50 kilograms of the poisonous substance, raising serious concerns over the scale of the alleged conspiracy. Premji remains in police custody while investigators continue to examine his motive and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The podcast has now become a significant part of the investigation. In the recording, Premji identified himself as a "former Shia" and claimed to be a businessman based in Iran. Police have found that he travelled to Iran and Iraq on 19 occasions between 2015 and 2019 and had also worked briefly in Iran.
In the podcast, Premji claimed that he had launched campaigns and made considerable efforts to persuade members of the Shia community to embrace what he described as positive change. Investigators said he eventually turned into a non-believer after feeling ignored by the community.
He also spoke extensively about ideological differences between the Shia and Sunni communities, the two major branches of Islam. Premji claimed that raising rational questions about religion and opposing superstition could invite severe backlash and even threats to one's life. He criticized what he described as orthodox and hardline beliefs, repeatedly referred to internal conflicts between the two communities, and claimed that his efforts to introduce reforms ultimately resulted in his social isolation.
Premji further claimed that his ancestors were Hindus and alleged that many members of his community continue to observe certain Hindu rituals.
The alleged poisoning attempt was prevented due to the vigilance of three women volunteers deployed during the Muharram procession in Byculla. The volunteers confronted Premji after becoming suspicious of his activities and immediately alerted the police, leading to his arrest before the capsules could be widely distributed.
The case has drawn widespread attention because of the alleged scale of the planned attack, the recovery of thousands of poisonous capsules, and the emergence of the accused's earlier statements, all of which are now being closely examined as investigators continue to determine the motive behind the alleged plot.
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