Mumbai Police detain suspect in Saif Ali Khan attack case, being questioned at Bandra police station
The actor was attacked at his residence during the early hours of January 16
PTC Web Desk: Mumbai s Bandra police have detained a suspect in connection with the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan at his residence on early hours of Thursday. The suspect, whose identity has not been revealed, was apprehended on Friday after being captured on CCTV footage near the Bandra railway station shortly after the attack. The police confirmed that the suspect was seen leaving Saif’s residence on the sixth floor at approximately 2.30 am on January 15.
According to police sources, the actor sustained six stab wounds, including injuries to his neck, back, arms, and head. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where doctors confirmed that one of the stab wounds had pierced Saif’s spine, causing fluid leakage. The hospital staff successfully performed surgery to remove the knife fragment, and Saif’s condition is now stable. The police have seized the weapon for further examination.
The incident took place in the room of Saif and his wife Kareena Kapoor Khan's children, Taimur and Jeh. Their house help, Eliyamma Philip, also known as Leema, was present in the room when an unknown assailant entered and attacked her. Her screams alerted Saif, who rushed to the scene. Upon his arrival, the assailant immediately began attacking him. The injured house help was also taken to Lilavati Hospital for medical treatment.
According to the police, during their interrogation, it came to light that the assailant demanded a ransom of Rs 1 from the nanny responsible for caring for the children. One of the housemaids stated that she noticed a shadow near the bathroom and initially thought it was Kareena checking on their younger son. However, upon further suspicion, she ventured forward and was suddenly attacked by the assailant, who threatened her with a sharp weapon.
At the time of the incident, Saif’s three housemaids and three male staff members were present at the residence. His children, Taimur and Jeh, were unharmed. The police confirmed that Saif’s siblings, Ibrahim and Sara Ali Khan, reside in the same building on the eighth floor. Following the attack, they immediately visited Saif’s residence and helped him reach Lilavati Hospital by auto, as none of the family’s drivers were available at the time.
The Bandra Police have formed 10 teams to investigate the attack, and the Crime Branch has also deployed their own teams to probe the matter further. The Crime Branch visited Saif’s home to gather evidence, and prominent encounter specialist Daya Nayak is said to be part of the investigative team.
Saif’s wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, took to social media at 9 pm to address the media and public, urging them to refrain from speculating about the incident. She wrote, “This has been a challenging day for our family. We are trying to understand the situation. During this difficult time, I request the media and journalists to refrain from speculating and covering this incident further. While we appreciate your concern and support, continuous speculation and following us pose a significant risk to our safety. Please respect our boundaries and give us space to deal with this trying time.”