A Bangladeshi national has been arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan multiple times during a failed burglary at his Mumbai residence. Details of the attacker’s illegal entry into India and movements leading up to the incident have now emerged, shedding light on his background and motives.
Bangladeshi National’s Illegal Entry into India and New Identity
The accused, 30-year-old Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, illegally entered India seven months ago by crossing the Dawki River along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. After entering the country, he stayed in West Bengal for a few weeks before moving to Mumbai in search of work, according to police sources.
To blend in, Shehzad adopted the alias “Bijoy Das” and procured a mobile phone SIM card using the Aadhaar card of a local resident in Bengal. The SIM card was registered under the name Khukumoni Jahangir Sekha, police revealed. Once in Mumbai, Shehzad deliberately sought jobs that did not require any official documentation, further concealing his illegal status.
The Attack on Saif Ali Khan
The attack occurred in the early hours of January 16 at Saif Ali Khan’s residence on the 12th floor of the upscale “Satguru Sharan” building in Bandra, Mumbai. During a burglary attempt, Shehzad reportedly stabbed the actor six times after Khan tried to apprehend him.
Doctors who treated Khan removed a 2.5-inch piece of a broken knife from his spine during emergency surgery. They noted that the knife had narrowly missed causing a severe injury by just 2 millimeters. The actor was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday after recovering from his injuries.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Incident
Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan’s wife, recounted the harrowing incident in her police statement. “The attacker was aggressive. I saw him attack Saif repeatedly… Our priority was to take Saif to the hospital,” she said.
Eliyama Philips, a nurse caring for the couple’s younger son, Jehangir (Jeh), was the first to encounter the intruder. She reported that the accused demanded ₹1 crore during the intrusion.
Details of the Bangladeshi National’s Escape and Arrest
After stabbing Saif Ali Khan, Shehzad reportedly hid in the garden of the building for two hours before fleeing. The Mumbai Police and Crime Branch launched a massive manhunt, analyzing CCTV footage from multiple locations to track his movements.
After 70 hours of intense investigation, Shehzad was arrested near Hiranandani Estate in Kasarvadavali, Thane, approximately 35 kilometers from the actor’s residence.
Following his arrest on Sunday, Shehzad was remanded in police custody for five days. Investigations are ongoing to determine how he managed to stay undetected in India for months and whether he had any accomplices.