MUMBAI: Nearly 48 hours after the incident, the intruder who attacked actor Saif Ali Khan and his domestic staff during a burglary attempt remained untraced. Teams formed by Bandra police and Mumbai Crime Branch were yet to disclose details about the investigation when reports last came in, but Maharashtra’s minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam ruled out involvement of organised gangs.
Khan, who suffered stab wounds on his spine, neck, and hands, was “doing well” post-surgery, according to doctors. He walked around and ate regular meals at the hospital on Friday. He was moved from the ICU to a special room, said doctors. Depending on progress, he may be discharged on Monday.
A suspect, who resembled the person seen in the CCTV grab at Khan’s apartment in Bandra, was picked up from south Mumbai. During interrogation it was found he was a drug abuser who was home at the time of the crime. He was released on Friday afternoon.
At least 20 teams have been formed so far to trace the assailant. Several, including two carpenters who had carried out furniture work in the actor’s home two days ago, were questioned. Khan’s wife Kareena Kapoor gave her statement to police on Friday. Police are also tracking mobile data to check on the presence of new numbers in the locality at the time the incident occurred.
Bandra police have registered the case based on the domestic help, Eliyamma Phillip’s statement. According to Philip, she was the first to spot the intruder near the room where the actor’s son was sleeping. She made sure the child was safe before confronting the man. Her screams alerted the others. During the confrontation with the burglar, despite being stabbed with a knife, Khan managed to gather everyone behind him in the corridor and pull the door of the room to trap him inside.
Saif got family in corridor, tried to trap intruder in room, say police
An investigating officer said Khan managed to gather everyone behind him in the corridor and pulled the door of the room to trap the intruder inside, but in the commotion, failed to lock the door from outside. This helped the intruder escape when Khan, his wife, their children and the staff rushed out to get help.
Police are not yet conclusive about the route taken by the intruder after leaving the building. Bandra police believe he took the fire escape stairwell to reach Khan’s 11th floor residence. “There’s a second image of the intruder, his face covered with a mask. It was captured on the sixth floor. And after the attack, he left by the same route. His face was not covered while leaving the building,” said a source.
The intruder’s image was captured only on the stairs in the building. There are not many CCTVs in the locality. The domestic help told police that there are no CCTVs on the floor leading to the actor’s flat nor any inside the flat.
“His arrest will tell us how he managed to enter the flat. If he used a tool to pick the door lock or take some other route to enter the toilet,” said police. A case of armed robbery has been registered.