Mumbai Police have arrested a man suspected to be a Bangladeshi national in connection with the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan. The accused, identified as Mohd Shariful Islam Shehzad (31), allegedly entered Khan’s residence with the intent to commit theft, according to police officials.
“There is preliminary evidence to suggest that the accused is a Bangladeshi. He does not have valid Indian documents. Some items seized indicate his Bangladeshi origin,” said Dixit Gedam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 9, during a press conference.
The incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. on January 16, when the accused entered Saif Ali Khan’s Bandra apartment. The actor sustained serious injuries, including stab wounds to his thoracic spine.
The accused, who allegedly entered India illegally, was using the alias Vijay Das and had been living in Mumbai for the past five to six months. He reportedly worked for a housekeeping agency and used multiple aliases while moving between Mumbai and its surrounding areas, DCP Gedam stated.
The police have invoked relevant sections of the Passport Act and are verifying the suspect’s credentials, including his possible criminal record. “Prima facie, the accused appears to be a Bangladeshi national. We will seek police custody to further investigate his background and motive,” DCP Gedam added.
Saif Ali Khan was immediately rushed to Lilavati Hospital following the attack. Doctors performed surgery to remove a 2.5-inch-long blade from his thoracic spine. According to hospital authorities, the surgery was successful, and the actor is now recovering in a regular room after being moved out of the ICU. While he is “out of danger,” his condition is being closely monitored by medical staff.
The investigation into the case is ongoing, and the police are working to establish whether the accused has any connections to other criminal activities. Further updates are expected as the case progresses.
