CCTV footage shows the attacker ascending and descending the stairs of Saif Ali Khan’s building with a red scarf and backpack. Police have identified the suspect but are yet to make an arrest.
BY PC Bureau
The shocking knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan in the early hours of Thursday has taken a new turn as Mumbai Police focus their investigation on the actor’s house staff. Questions have arisen about the security lapses that allowed the assailant to infiltrate the actor’s 12th-floor apartment in Bandra’s upscale ‘Satguru Sharan’ building and stab him multiple times.
A video from PTI captured scenes of Saif Ali Khan’s house staff being escorted away from Bandra Police Station after undergoing questioning. Authorities are probing whether negligence or complicity by the staff may have facilitated the attack. “We are examining every angle to ensure no detail is overlooked, including the role of individuals familiar with the household,” a senior police official said.
Details of the Attack
CCTV footage from the building provides a timeline of the incident. At 1:37 am, the suspect is seen cautiously ascending the stairs, wrapped in a red scarf and carrying a backpack. An hour later, at 2:30 am, the same individual is spotted descending from the sixth floor. Police officials suspect he fled the scene immediately after the attack.
VIDEO | Attack on Saif Ali Khan: Bhajan Singh, the autorickshaw driver who took the actor to Lilavati Hospital after the knife attack, said:
"There were three people in the auto — Saif Ali Khan, a kid, and a young man, possibly his son. He was able to speak. He seemed normal…
VIDEO | Visuals from outside the actor Saif Ali Khan's apartment in Mumbai.
The Mumbai Police has formed as many as 20 teams to track down and nab the intruder who stabbed Saif Ali Khan in his apartment in upscale Bandra in Mumbai in the early hours of Thursday.#MumbaiNews… pic.twitter.com/ae1jXJZeVJ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 17, 2025
href=”https://t.co/0d69TzM6Rp”>pic.twitter.com/0d69TzM6Rp
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 17, 2025
The footage has been instrumental in identifying the attacker, who appears to be between 35 and 40 years old. However, despite detaining a man resembling the suspect for questioning, no arrests have been made yet.
Saif Ali Khan’s Condition
Saif Ali Khan, who sustained severe stab wounds in the altercation, was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgeries. Doctors reported that the actor is stable and recovering well, though he remains under close observation. He is expected to be discharged in two days, provided no complications arise.
Security Lapses Under Scrutiny
The actor’s residential building has a multi-tiered security system, leading investigators to question how the assailant bypassed these measures. Police are examining whether the attacker had insider knowledge of the building’s layout and routines.
“The fact that the suspect knew how to navigate the premises without triggering alarms is concerning,” a police source said.
Community on Edge
The incident has left the Bandra neighborhood shaken. Residents are calling for heightened security and accountability from building management. Saif Ali Khan’s neighbors, too, are pressing for answers regarding the breach.
As investigations continue, Mumbai Police have deployed 20 teams across the city to track the attacker, focusing on the Vasai-Virar region, where the suspect is believed to have fled.
Background and Reactions
Bollywood has rallied around Saif Ali Khan, with fans and colleagues expressing their concern and demanding justice. Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif’s wife, issued a statement thanking well-wishers while urging the public to allow the family privacy.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, has assured that the attack was not linked to organized crime. “This seems to be a theft attempt gone wrong. Saif Ali Khan has not reported any prior threats or requested additional security,” he said.
As the investigation unfolds, all eyes remain on Mumbai Police and their ability to swiftly apprehend the suspect while addressing the broader security concerns raised by this high-profile incident.
