Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his residence after being discharged from Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on January 21, 2025. Photo credit: PTI
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has provided a detailed account of the January 16 attack at his Bandra home in Mumbai, where he was stabbed multiple times during an alleged robbery attempt. The actor, who recently underwent two surgeries, spoke to Mumbai Police late on Thursday (January 23, 2025) night, narrating the events that shook his family.
According to sources, Mr Khan described how what started with the screams of his young son Jahangir’s maternal grandmother, Eliama Phillips. Running to her son’s room, she confronted the intruder, who then stabbed her repeatedly in the back and neck.
The Bandra Magistrate Court on Friday extended the police custody of the suspect accused of attacking the actor till January 29. The court said that further detention was necessary to ascertain vital leads and ensure a thorough investigation of the incident.
The attack occurred in the wee hours of January 16 during an alleged robbery attempt. The “Devra” actor sustained multiple stab wounds and underwent two surgeries at Lilavati Hospital before being discharged on Tuesday. Police later arrested the infiltrator, identified as Shariful Islam Shahzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Faqir alias Vijay Das, a Bangladeshi national who had entered India illegally. The accused reportedly told the police that the main objective of entering a rich house was to steal and leave for Bangladesh the next day, but not to harm the actor and anyone.
During interrogation, he confessed to the crime, saying, “han, main hi kiya hai (Yes I did)”.
Mr Khan told investigators on Thursday night that the nanny – Eliama Phillips – was scared and screaming, Jah was crying,” Mr Khan reportedly told police.
“The intruder stabbed the actor multiple times on the back, neck and hand when he tried to intervene,” the police said.
Bandra Police has recovered the third piece of the knife used to carry out the attack. The recovered fragment, which included part of the handle and blade of the knife, was found near Bandra Lockdown, more than a kilometer from Khan’s residence at Satguru Sharan Bhawan.
Investigators also found several fingerprints belonging to the accused, Islam Shahzad, on the building’s staircase, toilet door and the door handle of Mr Khan’s younger son Jeh’s room, which is expected to serve as crucial evidence in the case. .
In a gesture of gratitude, Mr Khan met the autorickshaw driver, Mr Bhajan Singh Rana, who had taken him to the hospital before discharging him, to thank him for his timely assistance. “I met him (Mr Khan) in the hospital. He called to thank me for helping him reach the hospital. He praised me, and I received blessings from him and his family,” Mr. Rana said. He said, “He introduced me to his mother, Mrs. Sharmila Tagore, and I touched her feet. He also gave me a monetary reward and said that he would always help me whenever needed.”
The incident took a sharp political turn on Thursday with Maharashtra cabinet minister Nitish Rane raising doubts over the seriousness of the attack. Mr Khan, son of former Union minister Narayan Rane, said Mr Khan’s post-hospital recovery seemed “very quick”, raising questions about whether the actor was “actually attacked or merely acting”. “
Adding to the doubt surrounding Mr Khan’s case, on Wednesday Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam, led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, questioned the actor’s swift recovery. Mr Neerupam cited Lilavati Hospital’s report that Khan’s injuries required a six-hour surgery. ,
published – January 24, 2025 10:17 am IST
