NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was attacked in his Bandra apartment in the early hours of Thursday. The Mumbai Police have deployed 20 teams to track down the intruder, who remains at large.
The attack occurred at around 2:30 am at Saif Ali Khan’s residence after an intruder, armed with a Hexa blade and a wooden stick, broke into the actor’s home with the alleged intent to commit burglary but ended up injuring Saif and his household staff in a violent altercation.
Saif Ali Khan Health Update
Mumbai Police said that they have taken possession of the portion extracted from Saif Ali Khan’s back while a part of the blade is still to be recovered. The attacker was last seen near the Bandra Railway Station. Police suspect that the suspect caught the first local train in the morning to go towards Vasai-Virar after the incident.
Here’s what we know so far:
Mumbai police form 20 teams to nab Saif Ali Khan attacker
Mumbai police have formed 20 teams to apprehend the intruder who attacked Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra apartment. Officials revealed that the police are leveraging their network of informants and scrutinizing CCTV footage from the building, which shows the assailant fleeing after the attack.
Security lapses, ‘no signs of forced entry’
Mumbai Police disclosed that Saif’s residence lacked surveillance cameras, leaving investigators reliant on footage from the building’s common areas. The suspect’s image was captured on CCTV as he fled via a fire escape. Authorities suspect he entered through a duct, as there were no signs of forced entry.
Philip, a house help employed by the family, recounted the terrifying ordeal. She awoke to find the attacker approaching the bed of Saif’s youngest son, Jeh. Attempting to intervene, she was injured in the scuffle. The intruder demanded Rs 1 crore, threatening violence. Hearing her screams, Saif and Kareena rushed out, leading to the violent confrontation.
Suspect details
CCTV footage captured the suspect wearing a red scarf, t-shirt, jeans, and carrying a backpack. Police have described him as a slim man in his late 30s with a dark complexion. His movements were recorded as he fled down the building’s stairwell, even looking directly at the camera at one point.
What exactly happened?
The incident occurred at around 2:30 am at Saif’s 11th-floor flat in the upscale ‘Satguru Sharan’ building. According to police, the attacker confronted a maid inside the residence before a violent altercation broke out. Saif, attempting to de-escalate the situation, was stabbed multiple times. The assailant fled the scene armed with a wooden stick and a long Hexa blade, which he used during the attack.
Saif undergoes surgery
The actor was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. Doctors revealed that the attack caused a severe injury to Saif’s thoracic spinal cord, necessitating a procedure to remove a 2.5-inch knife lodged in his spine and to repair a leak in his spinal fluid. Although Saif is now out of danger, he remains under intensive care and close observation.
‘Incredibly challenging’, says wife Kareena Kapoor
Hours after the attack, Saif’s wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan described the incident as “incredibly challenging,” requesting privacy for her family.
“We are still processing the events that have unfolded. The constant scrutiny is overwhelming and poses a significant risk to our safety. We kindly request the media and paparazzi to give us the space to heal,” the statement read.
Opposition attacks government over ‘law and order’
The attack has sparked a political outcry, with opposition leaders criticising the state government over deteriorating law and order. NCP leader Sharad Pawar said, “If celebrities are unsafe, what about common citizens?” Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also extended his wishes for Saif’s recovery while calling for stronger measures to ensure public safety.