Ajit Pawar On Saif Ali Khan Attack Case: ‘Accused Entered Via Duct For Robbery, Wasn’t Aware It's Film Star's Home’

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dismissed concerns over law and order situation in Mumbai saying that the suspect is a Bangladeshi immigrant who entered actor Saif Ali Khan's home intending to rob.

File Photo of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, suspect identified as Mohd Shariful Islam Shehzad, and actor Saif Ali Khan.

Source : PTI

Saif Ali Khan Case: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday dismissed opposition allegations of a collapse in law and order following the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan. Pawar, who is also the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, stated that the individual responsible for the attack was an illegal migrant from Bangladesh and was unaware that the residence he targeted belonged to a film star. 

Speaking in Shirdi, Ajit Pawar stated, "Some opposition leaders have given the statement that law & order collapsed in Mumbai after the incident of attack on actor Saif Ali Khan. But the reality is the accused migrated from Bangladesh. First, he came to Kolkata and then he had heard a lot about Mumbai, so he came to Mumbai. He is a thief who entered from the duct to Saif Ali Khan's residence. He was not aware that this was the house of some film star. He just entered the house with the intention of robbery", news agency ANI reported.

Shirdi, Maharashtra: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar speaks on the actor Saif Ali Khan stabbing case pic.twitter.com/tTq4W3iu6y

— IANS (@ians_india) January 19, 2025

While the Opposition cornered the Maharashtra government over the city's law and order situation, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had said that the incident must be taken seriously and assured government will take steps to make Mumbai safer. "Mumbai safest mega city in country, the incident is serious but it is wrong to brand the city as unsafe," he remarked on January 16, as per news agency PTI.

Saif Ali Khan Case: Mumbai Police Say Suspect An Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrant

The suspect, identified as Mohd Shariful Islam Shehzad, was arrested by the Mumbai Police early on Sunday. According to a police statement, Shehzad, a suspected illegal immigrant, had entered Saif Ali Khan’s Bandra apartment on the night of January 16 with the intention to commit theft. 

The police further stated that Shehzad hails from the Jhalokati district of Bangladesh and had been in Mumbai for around five to six months. Initially using the name Vijay Das, Shehzad had worked for a housekeeping agency in Mumbai and its surrounding areas. He was apprehended at Hiranandani Estate in Thane while attempting to flee to his native village.

"The accused does not have valid Indian documents. Some items seized indicate that he is a Bangladeshi national," said Dixit Gedam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 9, as quoted by ANI. He added, "Prima facie, the accused is a Bangladeshi and after entering India illegally, he changed his name. He stayed in Mumbai for a few days and then in the vicinity of Mumbai."

The attack on Saif Ali Khan took place around 2:00 AM, when the actor sustained serious injuries, including stab wounds to his thoracic spine. Following the attack, Khan was rushed to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove a 2.5-inch-long blade. The procedure was successful, and the actor is now reported to be out of danger, having been moved from the ICU to a regular room. 

Medical staff at Lilavati Hospital have been closely monitoring Saif Ali Khan's condition, and hospital administration confirmed that he is recovering well.

The police have filed a case against Shehzad under sections 311, 312, 331(4), 331(6), and 331(7) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). Investigation teams have been assigned to further probe the matter.