Actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times in an alleged burglary attempt at his Bandra residence early Thursday. The suspect, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national, has reportedly confessed to the crime.
The accused, Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, was apprehended on Sunday near Hiranandani Estate in Thane, some 35 kilometres from Khan's upscale Bandra home.
According to senior police sources, Shehzad admitted to the attack in custody, telling officers, “Haan, maine hi kiya hai (Yes, I did it).”
The breakthrough came after an intense 70-hour search operation. Shehzad was traced to a labour camp in a forested area in Thane based on information from a labour contractor.
Upon learning of a police presence of over 100 personnel, Shehzad attempted to evade capture by hiding in the bushes.
“He was arrested after a seven-hour operation,” a police source revealed.
Suspect’s identity under scrutiny
Senior police officer Dixit Gedam confirmed Shehzad’s identity as a Bangladeshi national, stating, “He does not have any Indian documents. Some things found in his possession show that he is a Bangladeshi national.”
However, defence lawyer Sandeep D Sherkhane contested the claims, asserting that Shehzad has lived in India for several years and possesses vital documents. “The case has been hyped because of the presence of Khan,” Sherkhane argued.
The accused had reportedly been living in Mumbai for four months under the alias Bijoy Das. He has been remanded in five-day police custody for further investigation.
Violent encounter at Bandra residence
The attack occurred at Khan’s 12th-floor residence in the “Satguru Sharan” building. Khan, 54, sustained grievous injuries, including six stab wounds. Doctors removed a 2.5-inch knife fragment from his spine during emergency surgery.
“If the knife had pierced 2 mm deeper, it could have caused a severe injury,” doctors noted.
Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, who witnessed the incident, recounted the harrowing moments to the police. “The attacker was aggressive. I saw him attack Saif repeatedly. Our priority was to take Saif to the hospital,” she said.
A nurse, Eliyama Philips, who was caring for the couple’s younger son, Jehangir, was the first to confront the intruder. She stated that the attacker demanded ₹1 crore during the altercation.
Missteps in the investigation
Before Shehzad’s arrest, multiple leads turned out to be false. On Friday, a carpenter resembling the suspect captured on CCTV at the building was detained but later released.
Another suspect was apprehended at Chhattisgarh’s Durg railway station on Saturday but was also let go after investigation.
Police said footage from multiple CCTV cameras and coordinated efforts between police and crime branch teams were instrumental in identifying and capturing Shehzad.
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