The man arrested for allegedly breaking into actor Saif Ali Khan's Mumbai home and stabbing him six times is reportedly a Bangladeshi national who entered India illegally and had been living in Mumbai for the past few months, Mumbai Police said to NDTV on Sunday.
Speaking to the media and NDTV Sunday morning, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dixit Gedam said they have arrested an accused in connection with the burglary attempt at the actor's Bandra home late on Wednesday night.
The accused, he said, had been identified as Mohammad Shariful 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, adding that the accused entered the actor's home to commit robbery.
"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.
Gedam added that the accused had been arrested from Thane and is now being questioned.
The intruder had managed to break into the actor's home through the fire exit at the back.
Saif's maid spotted him and screamed.
When Saif confronted him, the attacker stabbed him six times and fled.
Saif Ali Khan was rushed to the nearby Lilavati Hospital.
Doctors have said he is recovering well now.
"The robber asked for money and when he was opposed, he attacked the maid Junu and Saif Ali Khan and injured them.
Police have taken the accused into custody on the basis of technical evidence.
The accused's name is Shariful Islam Shehzad and he is a Bangladeshi national," a police statement said, adding that the accused has also been charged under sections relating to illegally entering India.
What Happened That Night
In her statement to the police, Eliyama Philip, who works as a nanny for Saif Ali Khan's sons, said that she was the first to spot the intruder.
The 56-year-old said she was woken by noises around 2am.
She noticed the bathroom door slightly open and the light on, thinking Kareena Kapoor Khan was checking on her younger son, Jeh.
However, after going back to sleep, she sensed something was wrong and woke up again.
She saw a man leaving the bathroom and entering the boy's room.
Quickly, she went to Jeh's room, where the intruder silenced her with a finger to his lips, saying: "Don't make any noise, nobody will go out" in Hindi.
As she tried to grab Jeh, the man, holding a wooden stick and a large blade, ran towards her and attempted to attack.
She tried to block the strike by putting her hand out, but the blade hit both her wrists and the middle finger of her left hand.
When she asked him what he wanted, he replied: "I want money."
She then asked how much and he answered: "One crore" in English.
Upon hearing her scream, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan rushed out of their room.
When Saif questioned the intruder, he attacked with the wooden stick and blade.
However, Saif managed to escape, and they all fled to the upper floor of the house.
The intruder later escaped.
An Attack That Shocked Mumbai
The attack on renowned actor Saif Ali Khan has left the nation in shock and raised concerns about the law and order situation in Mumbai.
This incident has sparked criticism from various opposition leaders and figures in the film industry, with many questioning the state of safety for ordinary citizens if even celebrities can be attacked.
In response to the criticism, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the safety of the city, saying: "Mumbai is the safest among all megacities in the country. While some incidents do occur and should be taken seriously, it wouldn't be fair to label Mumbai as unsafe based on just one incident. Such claims harm the city's reputation. The government is actively working to make Mumbai even safer."
