Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his residence after he was 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 left his family shaken.
According to sources, Mr. Khan described how the ordeal began with the screams of his younger son Jehangir’s nanny, Eliyama Philips. Rushing to his son’s room, he confronted the intruder, who then stabbed him repeatedly in the back and neck.
The Bandra Magistrate Court on Friday granted an extension of police custody for the suspect accused of attacking actor till January 29. The court stated that further detention was necessary to explore critical leads and ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.
The attack occurred in the wee hours of January 16 during an alleged robbery attempt. The “Devara” actor sustained multiple stab wounds and underwent two surgeries at Lilavati Hospital before being discharged on Tuesday. The police later arrested the intruder, identified as Shareeful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir alias Vijay Das, a Bangladeshi national who had entered India illegally. The accused reportedly told police that the main purpose of entering a wealthy household was to steal and leave for Bangladesh the next day, but not to harm the actor and anyone.
During the questioning, he confessed to the crime stating, “haan, maine hi kiya hai (yes, I did it)“.
Mr. Khan on Thursday night reportedly told the investigators that while the nanny – Eliyama Philips – was scared and screaming, Jeh was crying,” Mr Khan reportedly told the police.
“The intruder stabbed the actor multiple times in the back, neck and on the hand when he tried to intervene,” the police said.
The Bandra police have recovered the third piece of the knife used to attack. The recovered piece, which included the knife handle and part of the blade, was found near Bandra Talao, over a kilometre from Khan’s residence in Satguru Sharan building.
Investigators also found multiple fingerprints belonging to the accused, Islam Shehzad, on the building’s staircase, the toilet door, and the door handle of Mr. Khan’s younger son Jeh’s room, which are expected to serve as critical evidence in the case.
In a gesture of gratitude, Mr. Khan met the autorickshaw driver, Mr. Bhajan Singh Rana, who rushed him to the hospital, before getting discharged, to thank him for his timely assistance. “I met him (Mr. Khan) at 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 added, “He introduced me to his mother, Mrs. Sharmila Tagore, and I touched her feet. He also gave me a monetary reward and said he would always help me whenever needed.”
The incident took a sharp political turn with Maharashtra cabinet minister Nitesh Rane, on Thursday, casting doubt on the severity of the attack. Mr.Rane, son of former Union Minister Narayan Rane, said that Mr. Khan’s post-hospital recovery seemed “too quick,” raising the question of whether the actor was “truly attacked or merely acting.”
Adding to the scepticism surrounding Mr. Khan’s case, on Wednesday, deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam questioned the actor’s swift recovery. Mr. Nirupam cited reports from Lilavati Hospital that Khan’s injuries required a six-hour surgery. “
Published – January 24, 2025 10:17 am IST
