Mumbai Police's Goof-Up In Saif Ali Khan Attack Case Costs Colaba Man His Marriage, Job

Mumbai: An incorrect alert by Mumbai police has led to 31-year-old Akash Kailash Kanojia losing both his job and his marriage prospects, the Colaba resident.

Kanojia, who was travelling from Mumbai to Bilaspur on the Jnaneswar Express on January 17 to meet his potential bride, was detained by Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers at Durg railway station, reported Hindustan Times.

This followed an alert from Mumbai police, accusing him of being involved in a foiled burglary attempt at actor Saif Ali Khan's apartment in Bandra West on January 16.

"The RPF not only detained me, but they also issued a press release with my photograph, which was widely broadcast by TV channels and media outlets. As a result, the bride's family cancelled our meeting and my employer terminated my employment," Kanojia explained.

He worked as a driver for a tour company that collaborates with Western Railway in Mumbai. On January 17, he received a call from the Mumbai police asking where he was. When he informed the officer he was at home, the call was abruptly disconnected, he said.

"The next day, I boarded the Jnaneswari Express from Mumbai, hoping to visit my ailing grandmother in Nehla, Chhattisgarh. I was supposed to change trains in Bilaspur and meet the family of my prospective bride later," he told HT.

At around 10am on January 18, when the Jnaneswari Express reached Durg junction, RPF officers detained him on suspicion of being the attacker and took him to Raipur. The Mumbai police team arrived nearly 12 hours later, informing him that he would be returned to Mumbai the following day for further investigation.

"I told the police I had nothing to do with the attack on Saif Ali Khan and offered to have them speak with my relatives. I also suggested they review CCTV footage from near my home to clear up any confusion. But they ignored my suggestions, instead circulating my photos in the media, claiming I was the attacker," Kanojia said.

However, on the night of January 18, the police apprehended Shariful Islam Shehzad, a suspected Bangladeshi national, in Thane, identifying him as the person who had allegedly broken into the actor's residence intending to commit a robbery.

The next morning, police released Kanojia and told him he was free to go to his grandmother's house. He asked to be taken back to Mumbai, fearing they might follow him and interrogate him in front of his family and relatives, but his request was denied.

"When I spoke to my mother (in Mumbai) after being released, she was deeply worried as my photo had been shown on all news channels. She asked me to come home immediately. The next day, when I called my employer, he told me not to report for work, saying, 'You're in legal trouble, and I don't want to get involved.' I tried explaining, but he wouldn't listen," Kanojia said.

Around the same time, he received a call from his grandmother, who told him that the family of his potential bride had called off the engagement after seeing his photo on the news.

"After what has happened, I'm not sure if I will ever be able to get married," he lamented.

Things had seemed to be improving for his family after a long time, but his detention has turned everything upside down, he said.

"My brother passed away after prolonged medical treatment, for which we had to sell everything, including our house in Virar. My father's garage in Colaba was also shut down after someone cheated him out of ₹9 lakh and fled the country," Kanojia explained.

"I'm an accused in a drug-related case and a theft case. I hope the courts will eventually clear me of all charges," he added.

Although the damage has been done, Kanojia is determined to have all photos identifying him as the attacker removed from the internet and has sought legal help, though he cannot afford the costs.

"The police overlooked one simple detail - I have a moustache, while the person seen in the CCTV footage from Saif Ali Khan's building didn't. Yet, I had to go through this ordeal," he said.