Shirdi (Maharashtra) [India], January 19: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has refuted opposition claims of a collapse in law and order following the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan, asserting that the accused involved in the incident was an illegal migrant from Bangladesh and had no knowledge of the victim’s identity.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief explained that the attacker had entered Saif Ali Khan’s residence with the intention of committing a robbery, unaware that it was the home of a film star. “The accused, who migrated from Bangladesh, first went to Kolkata and then to Mumbai after hearing much about the city. He is a thief who entered through the duct, not realizing the residence belonged to a celebrity,” Pawar stated.
On Sunday, the Mumbai Police confirmed the arrest of Mohd Shariful Islam Shehzad, who is reportedly an illegal migrant from Bangladesh. Shehzad was detained after an investigation revealed he had entered Mumbai with the intent to rob. The police further disclosed that the accused had been using the alias “Vijay Das” and had worked in a housekeeping agency in Mumbai for several months.
The attack occurred on the night of January 16 when Saif Ali Khan was injured during an assault at his Bandra residence. He sustained serious stab wounds to his thoracic spine and was hospitalized at Lilavati Hospital. Following successful surgery to remove a 2.5-inch-long blade, the actor is recovering well and has been moved from the ICU to a regular room.
Police also confirmed that Shehzad is a native of the Jhalokati district in Bangladesh and had entered India illegally. The investigation continues, with the police registering a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
The incident has raised concerns over security, but authorities emphasize that the attack was an isolated crime, and the law and order situation in Mumbai remains under control.