The Bandra Police have refuted claims that they delayed informing the concerned departments following the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan by an intruder. They clarified that they promptly informed the head office’s control room, which is responsible for notifying all police stations, the Crime Branch, and the Mumbai Police Commissioner.
A section of the media reported that the Crime Branch blamed the Bandra Police for delaying the arrest of the accused in the Saif Ali Khan attack case. The Crime Branch alleged that the Bandra Police failed to inform them immediately after the incident. However, the Bandra Police denied the accusation.
A police officer from the Bandra police station stated, “Once we informed the head office control room, it automatically meant that all concerned departments, police stations, and senior officials, including the Commissioner of Police, were notified.”
The investigating officer explained that the Crime Branch officers arrived at Saif Ali Khan’s residence shortly after the Bandra Police. However, he could not recall the exact time.
He added, “After the incident, the actor’s family and staff rushed him to Lilavati Hospital, while another staff member informed us about the attack. Upon receiving the information at 3:05 am, I and two constables reached the actor’s residence within 10 to 15 minutes. Other police personnel arrived soon after. By the time we reached, the actor had already been taken to the hospital. We immediately began our panchnama.”
The officer further emphasised that senior police officers and the Commissioner’s office control room were informed as soon as the information was received.
In the Saif Ali Khan case, the image of the Mumbai Police has come under scrutiny as almost 70 hours have passed without a breakthrough. A blame game has erupted between the Bandra Police and the Crime Branch regarding delays in the investigation.
Now, the Bandra Police, Crime Branch, and other police units are actively working on the case. Over the past two days, senior officers from the Law and Order division and the Crime Branch have visited the Bandra Police Station and Crime Branch Unit-9 to coordinate efforts and provide guidance.
Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Dhanraj Vanjari commented on the situation: “As per my knowledge, there is no rift between the Bandra Police and the Crime Branch. Crime Branch Senior Inspector Daya Nayak has visited the location and started the investigation. The local police station has to complete certain formalities, such as recording statements and filing the FIR. This is standard procedure and should not be labeled as a delay.
“Mumbai operates as a unified system where the Crime Branch and local police work together. Each police station has an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and a Crime Branch unit that receives information immediately. Once the police station informs the control room, all departments are automatically notified. Technical issues may arise, but they are minor. Both teams are working diligently and sincerely to ensure justice. We should give them enough time to investigate rather than create unnecessary rifts,” Vanjari concluded.