In the early hours of Sunday, Mumbai Police arrested the prime suspect in the stabbing case of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan. The accused, identified as Shariful Islam Shehzad, was apprehended in the Labour Camp area of Thane. Police revealed that Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national, had been living in Mumbai for the past four to five months and was using the alias Vijay Das to avoid detection.
Authorities reported that Shehzad had been working as part of the housekeeping staff at Ricky’s Bar in Thane. Following his arrest, the suspect was presented before a Mumbai court on Sunday afternoon, placing him under police custody for five days to facilitate further investigation.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 am on Thursday at Saif Ali Khan’s apartment in Bandra West. During the attack, the actor sustained six stab wounds, including injuries to his neck and shoulder. He was immediately rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where medical professionals performed a five-hour-long surgery to remove a 2.5-inch blade fragment lodged in his spine.
Saif Ali Khan’s wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, has been by his side throughout his recovery. Accompanied by their children, Jeh and Taimur, Kareena visited Lilavati Hospital to check on his progress. This marked Jeh’s first visit to see his father since the unfortunate incident.
Investigation Details and Court Proceedings
During the court hearing, Mumbai Police disclosed that Shehzad had entered India illegally from Bangladesh and had been residing in Mumbai under pretenses. The police emphasized the necessity of investigating the motive behind the attack and probing for any possible links to an international conspiracy.
The Bandra court, presiding over the case, acknowledged the early stage of the investigation and ruled in favor of granting police custody to the accused. The court stated, “The accused has entered the residence of a celebrity and attacked him. The police require custodial interrogation to recover the clothes worn by the accused on the day of the incident, as well as the knife used in the attack.”
The defense argued that no prior notice was issued to the accused under Section 43A of the BNS Act. However, the court maintained that the prosecution’s demands were justified, noting, “The allegations are well-founded, and the investigation is still in its initial stages. The accused was apprehended earlier today, and the police need adequate time to conduct a thorough investigation.”
Political Reaction
The case has also sparked political reactions, with Shiv Sena Member of Parliament (MP) Naresh Mhaske raising concerns about undocumented laborers in the city. Speaking on the matter, Mhaske said, “The nationality of laborers coming to Mumbai must be verified. These individuals often enter India illegally to work and later engage in criminal activities or terrorism. I plan to meet with the Police Commissioner to discuss this issue.”
The stabbing incident and the subsequent arrest of an undocumented immigrant have reignited debates around border security and the employment of undocumented workers in metropolitan cities like Mumbai.
As Saif Ali Khan continues his recovery, the investigation remains ongoing. Police are working to uncover the full details of the case, including the motive behind the attack and any possible connections to larger criminal networks.
