Saif Ali Khan Stabbing Case: As Mumbai Police Struggle To Trace The Accused, Here's What Has Happened So Far

It has been two days since Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was assaulted in a bold attack within his Bandra (West) home, yet the suspect remains at large, successfully evading the Mumbai police.

The police suspect that he may be a seasoned criminal, as he seemingly altered his attire to deceive investigators after departing from the crime scene.

On Friday (17 January), a significant search operation was launched to locate the suspect. It involved no less than 24 teams from the local police force, Crime Branch, and crime intelligence unit, all striving to make progress.

Early in the Friday morning, a "suspect" was apprehended by the Bandra police for an interrogation. However, after a five-hour investigation, they released him upon realising that he had no connection to the case.

According to police sources, the man was initially detained because he bore a resemblance to the perpetrator, who was captured on the CCTV at Saif's building, and had a past record of minor offenses.

In addition to others, a carpenter who had recently been employed at Saif's building was interrogated by the police. His family clarified that although he was employed at the family home, he had no involvement in the assault.

Despite the investigation not producing any outcomes thus far, it seemed as though the police were back at the starting point. However, later in the evening, information from the police suggested that they discovered the suspect on another CCTV footage, implying that he changed his outfit after leaving the actor's building.

The pivotal moment occurred when law enforcement officials were examining CCTV footage in Bandra, where they spotted the suspect, clad in a half-sleeve light blue shirt, close to Lucky Junction.

Previously, CCTV footage from the fire exit of the Satguru Sharan building showed the same individual donning a half-sleeve black T-shirt.

"The fact that the accused changed clothes indicates he could be a hardened criminal. The hunt has been intensified, and CCTVs from nearby railway stations are being checked," an officer said.

The fragment of a knife that was extracted from Saif Ali Khan's spine following his surgery was identified as the weapon used in the attack on him.

Additionally, according to law enforcement sources, the suspect deliberately concealed his face with a red scarf and a hat to evade detection by the building's cameras.

A representative from the force stated that the image of the suspect has been distributed among the entire force, which comprises more than 40,000 active and retired officers. However, the suspect has yet to be identified by anyone.

Images have also been distributed to numerous taxi and auto associations. “With the publicity given to the photograph, if anyone in the city had seen him, they would have approached us. But that has not happened,” the officer added.

The police are also connecting with several persons who have drug cases registered against them because in several robbery cases, the accused are also into drug consumption.

"We called in them, especially those who looked similar to the accused, and questioned them. That has not yielded anything either," the officer told Indian Express.

The initial examination of the crime scene and the building where Khan and his family reside in a duplex on the 11th and 12th floors has led the police to believe that the trespasser initially gained access to the premises by leaping over the back gate.

After making his way into the building, he skillfully evaded surveillance cameras and used the fire escape stairs for a certain distance. The intruder was recorded on CCTV at 1.38 am, ascending the floors barefoot and with his face concealed.

The initial hypothesis shared by the investigating officers suggests that he may have utilised a shaft that's 2 feet wide to infiltrate the bathroom of Khan's youngest child's room. From there, he is believed to have gained access to the 11th-floor residence.

Following a confrontation with the intruder, Khan and his companions were able to corral him into the child's room, from which they promptly escaped and secured the room from the outside.

Law enforcement officials believe that while the family sought refuge on the house's 12th floor, the perpetrator likely made his exit through the same narrow shaft he used for entry, via the toilet window.

Subsequently, he accessed the fire exit stairs and was caught on a CCTV camera located on the building's sixth floor. Authorities have indicated that the security measures in place at the building are lax.

The main gate is manned by two guards, and a single guard is stationed at the back gate. The officers pointed out that for a building of such prominence in Bandra, the CCTV surveillance is insufficient.

Local vendors have reported that the guards at the gate frequently permitted them to access the building and visit apartments without confirmation of an order being made.

Law enforcement officials have reported that they are utilising their network of informants and individuals with criminal records to obtain information on the suspect.

Furthermore, they are examining their database for individuals with criminal histories who fit the suspect's description captured on CCTV.

Bhajan Singh, the auto-rickshaw driver who transported Saif to the hospital, recounted the incident, describing the actor as being soaked in blood and barely able to walk.

He mentioned that upon their arrival at Lilavati Hospital, and noticing a guard at the entrance, he only then recognized his passenger's identity. Saif had requested him to quickly get the guard's attention, announcing, "Main Saif Ali Khan hoon (I am Saif Ali Khan)". A stretcher was subsequently fetched, onto which Saif climbed, added Singh.