The man arrested for allegedly stabbing actor Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra home is a Bangladeshi national who entered India illegally and had been living in Mumbai for the past few months, Mumbai Police said Sunday.
Speaking to the media this morning, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dixit Gedam said they have arrested the accused in connection with the burglary attempt at the actor’s Bandra home in the wee hours of Thursday as well as stabbing him.
The accused has been identified as Mohammad Sariful Islam Shehzad.
“The investigation has revealed that this accused could be from Bangladesh. He does not have any Indian document. We suspect he is from Bangladesh, we are investigating and have added Passport Act charges to the case against him,” the senior officer said.
The cops said the man entered Saif’s house with the motive of burglary.
“We have recovered some items from him that suggest he is from Bangladesh. He came to India illegally and changed his name to Bijoy Das. He has been living in Mumbai for about four months and was working at a housekeeping agency,” the senior officer said.
According to police, the accused is unmarried and worked as a waiter at a restaurant until a few months back.
He was currently unemployed and police suspect he attempted the burglary for a big haul.
The accused was picked up from Thane.
Saif Ali Khan was stabbed repeatedly while he tried to protect his children during an encounter with the intruder who attempted a burglary bid at his Bandra home in the wee hours of Thursday.
The 54-year-old actor sustained severe injuries, including wounds to his neck and near his spine, during the attack.
Saif is recovering well, doctors treating him said Friday. He underwent an emergency surgery on Thursday night during which a 2.5-inch piece of the blade was removed from his spine.
Earlier on Saturday, the police arrested a suspect at Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh, NDTV reported.
On Friday, the Mumbai Police detained another individual over his alleged connection with the case. He was then brought in by the police in Bandra for questioning. However, five hours later, he was let go as the police found that the man had no link with the case.
CCTV footage from the actor’s building captured the intruder wearing a red scarf and carrying a backpack.
The assailant was seen taking the stairs to Khan’s apartment and fleeing around 2:30 am on Thursday.
Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was present during the attack, recorded her statement with the Mumbai Police.
She recounted the horrifying incident, stating, “The attacker was aggressive. I saw him stab Saif repeatedly. Our priority was to get Saif to the hospital.”
She added that the intruder fled without stealing any valuables.
Kapoor Khan revealed that after ensuring her husband was hospitalised, she sought refuge at her sister Karisma Kapoor’s home, feeling “terrified” after the ordeal.
More than 30 teams were mobilised to track down and apprehend the attacker.
