Saif Ali Khan attacked: Accused sent to 5-day police custody - what we know so far

NEW DELHI: A man accused of stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was arrested on Sunday in Thane. The person was identified as Mohammad Sharif Ul Islam Shehzad, also known as Vijay Das, aged 30. A Bangladeshi national, he entered India via the West Bengal border six months ago.

“There is primary evidence to anticipate that the accused is a Bangladeshi. He does not have valid Indian documents. There are some seizures that indicate that he is a Bangladeshi national...As of now, we think that the accused has entered the residence (of Saif Ali Khan) for the first time,” said DCP Zone 9 Dikshit Gedam.

“Prima facie the accused is a Bangladeshi and after entering India illegally he changed his name. He was using Vijay Das as his current name. He came to Mumbai 5-6 months ago. He stayed in Mumbai for a few days and then in the vicinity of Mumbai. The accused used to work in a housekeeping agency,” Gedam added.

He is currently held at Khar Police Station.

Earlier, a suspect was questioned in Mumbai but cleared of involvement. Another suspect, Aakash Kanojia, was arrested in Chhattisgarh and handed over to Mumbai Police.

Police have recovered part of the weapon used in the attack at Khan’s residence.

Here's what we know so far:
Accused sent to 5-day police custody
Accused Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad was presented before the Bandra Holiday Court in Mumbai, which granted a 5-day police custody. The defence counsel raised concerns about the legality of the arrest, but the magistrate dismissed these arguments, stating they lacked sufficient reasoning. The prosecution argued that the accused, a Bangladeshi national, could be involved in a larger international conspiracy, which the magistrate considered while granting police custody.

Saif attacker produced in court for police remand
The man arrested in connection with the attack on Saif was produced before a Mumbai court on Sunday for police remand. The accused, was brought to the holiday court in Bandra at 1:30pm. Police sought his remand after his arrest in Thane city. According to the preliminary investigation, Shehzad entered Khan’s Bandra residence, Satguru Sharan building, early on January 16 with the intent to steal.

'Suspect used multiple aliases'
The arrested suspect, Mohammed Shariful Islam, reportedly operated under several aliases, including Bijoy Das and Mohammed Iliyas. He worked for a housekeeping agency in Mumbai for a while before moving to Thane. He returned to Mumbai 15 days prior to committing the offense. DCP Dikshit Gedam stated that relevant sections of the Passport Act and the Foreigners Act, in addition to other BNS sections, will be added. The accused was identified as Bangladeshi, with a document or ID found in his possession, according to the DCP.

Burglary or targeted attack?
Authorities are investigating whether the stabbing was a botched burglary attempt or a premeditated assault on the actor. Early reports suggested the intruder may have been familiar with the building’s layout and security lapses, leading to speculation about his intent.

CCTV footage proves crucial
Investigators relied heavily on CCTV footage, which showed the suspect moving through the building and later buying earphones at a nearby shop. Statements from the actor’s staff and neighbours also helped police piece together the suspect’s movements on the night of the attack.

What happened during the attack
The horrifying incident unfolded at around 2.30am in Khan’s Bandra apartment. The intruder allegedly entered the premises unnoticed and confronted the actor’s son’s nanny, Philip, near the child’s room.

Philip recounted in her statement that the man threatened her to stay silent and attacked when she resisted, injuring her hands and wrists. Saif Ali Khan intervened to protect his family but was stabbed multiple times during the altercation.

The actor sustained serious injuries, including a 2.5-inch blade lodged in his thoracic spine, and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital. His wife, Kareena Kapoor, and staff member Geeta also suffered minor injuries during the chaos.

Police investigation
Mumbai Police had mobilised 20 teams to investigate the incident, including officers from the Crime Branch and Bandra Police Station. No signs of forced entry were found, suggesting the intruder exploited a security lapse.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has written to the Mumbai Police Commissioner requesting enhanced security for the actor.

Saif Ali Khan’s condition
Doctors at Lilavati Hospital successfully removed the knife shard from Khan’s spine. The actor underwent emergency surgery and has since been moved from the ICU to a regular room. Neurosurgeons also treated deep wounds on his neck and hand, which required plastic surgery.

Dr Niraj Uttamani, Chief Operating Officer of the hospital, said, “Saif is stable and recovering well. He remains under observation but is expected to make a full recovery soon.”