The Mumbai Police arrested a man, who stabbed actor Saif Ali Khan at his Mumbai residence on January 16, in Maharashtra’s Thane early on Sunday.
The attacker, identified as Mohammad Alian, confessed to entering the actor’s house and committing the crime. The attacker, who worked at a pub in Thane, was arrested at a labour camp near a metro construction site at the Hiranandani Estate in the city. Officials at the Vile Parle police station in Mumbai had made a breakthrough in making the arrest.
Police said the accused had multiple names like Bijoy Das, Vijay Das, Mohammad Illyas and BJ. According to police sources, the accused is a resident of West Bengal. Police brought Mohammad Alian to Bandra to question him in connection with the case. He will be produced before the court for police remand this morning.
Police are also investigating whether the attacker is an Indian or a Bangladeshi national by having a fake Indian identity. The Mumbai Police is likely to hold a press conference at 9 am to give more details about the arrest.
Before the attacker’s arrest, posters of him captured on CCTV footage climbing down the stairs from Saif Ali Khan’s home were put up in Mumbai and neighbouring places.
Mumbai Police had formed teams to catch the attacker after he was seen in several CCTV footages, including a clip where he was seen at Dadar railway station following the incident. The arrest came after a suspect was detained in Chhattisgarh’s Durg in connection with the case. A Mumbai Police team reached Durg to question the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Aakash Kailash Kannojia.
The suspect was intercepted by Chhattisgarh Railway Protection Force (RPF) when he was onboard the Gyaneshwari Express train in Durg district. Mumbai Police had alerted the railway police with the suspect’s photo and location details.
Earlier on Saturday, a man was detained in Madhya Pradesh, sparking speculation about his possible connection to Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing case. However, authorities dismissed the claims and revealed that the detention was related to a separate case.
ATTACK ON SAIF ALI KHAN
Saif Ali Khan was stabbed by a man during a burglary bid at the actor’s Bandra West home in the wee hours of Thursday. The 54-year-old actor suffered multiple stab injuries, including on his neck and near the spine, in the attack at his house. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in an autorickshaw, where he underwent emergency surgery and is out of danger.
As per the complaint filed in the case, the attacker had entered the room of Saif Ali Khan’s younger son, Jehangir (Jeh), when he was spotted by the house help. Subsequent commotion alarmed other residents of the house, and Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan rushed into Jeh’s room, the complainant said. Saif conronted the intruder and got injured in the scuffle.
Kareena Kapoor Khan, who gave her statement to Mumbai Police on Saturday, mentioned that the intruder got aggressive during his scuffle but did not touch jewellery kept in the open.
SAIF ALI KHAN RECOVERING WELL
A team of doctors treating Saif Ali Khan on Saturday said the actor is recovering well and is expected to be discharged in two to three days. The 54-year-old was admitted to the ICU of Lilavati Hospital initially, but was shifted to the general ward earlier in the day. Doctors also informed that the actor was walking and was on a normal diet.
“We are observing his progress, and he is doing well according to our expectations. As per his progress, we have advised him bed rest, and if he is comfortable, we will discharge him in two to three days,” Dr Nitin Dange, a neurosurgeon at Lilavati Hospital, had said.