Saif Ali Khan Stabbing: Here's How Mumbai Police Traced, Nabbed Accused Shariful Islam Shehzad

Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national who had illegally entered India and was living under the alias Bijoy Das, has been apprehended for allegedly breaking into actor Saif Ali Khan's residence and attacking him and his staff during an attempted burglary.

Police had formed 30 teams to track down the accused, carefully analysing CCTV footage from the Bandra building where Saif Ali Khan resides with his wife, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, and their sons.

Photo Credit: PTI

Footage revealed the suspect leaving the premises after the attack, which left the actor seriously injured.

The police then meticulously reviewed hours of CCTV footage across the city, reported NDTV.

In DN Nagar, Andheri, they identified the suspect dismounting from a motorbike and traced the vehicle using its registration number.

Simultaneously, following intelligence inputs, officers focused on a rented accommodation in Koliwada, Worli, where the suspect lived with three others.

A police team visited the address and questioned the occupants, obtaining the suspect's name and related information. His phone number was also retrieved and used to trace his location.

The investigation revealed that Shariful was hiding in a thicket on a deserted road in Thane. Police surrounded him and took him into custody.

Authorities have confirmed they found no Indian documents on Shariful but discovered evidence proving he is a Bangladeshi national who had crossed the border illegally.

During interrogation, Shariful admitted he had seen his images on TV news following the incident and fled to Thane. He claimed he turned off his phone and hid near a labour camp. However, police tracked his phone's last known location and closed in on him.

Shariful asserted he was unaware that he was breaking into Saif Ali Khan's home, according to a police officer. However, investigators suspect he was unemployed and targeted the actor's residence for a significant robbery.

The suspect reportedly used the rear staircase and air-conditioning ducts to enter the building. He stated it was his first time inside the premises. The police may recreate the incident with the accused to verify his claims.

Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan is recovering well after being admitted to Lilavati Hospital late Wednesday night with six stab wounds, including one near his spine.

What Happened That Night

Eliyama Philip, a nanny employed for Saif Ali Khan's sons, provided a statement to the police recounting the incident.

The 56-year-old said she was awakened by noises around 2 am. "I saw the bathroom door ajar and the light on, and assumed Kareena Kapoor Khan was checking on her younger son, Jahangir or Jeh," she said.

"...then I went back to sleep but, again, I realised something was wrong. So I woke up again and saw a man come out of the bathroom and go into the boy's room. I quickly got up and went to Jeh's room. The attacker then put his finger near his mouth and said, 'Don't make any noise, nobody will go out,' in Hindi," Philip stated.

"When I rushed to pick up Jeh, the man, armed with a wooden stick and a long hexa blade, ran towards me and tried attacking me," she added.

"I tried to block the attack by putting my hand forward, but the blade hit me near the wrists of both my hands and on the middle finger of my left hand," she explained.

"At that time, I asked him, 'What do you want?' He said, 'I want money.' I asked, 'How much do you want?' He said in English, 'One crore,'" Philip said in her statement.

Hearing her screams, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan rushed out of their room. When Khan asked the intruder what he wanted, the latter attacked him with a wooden object and the hexa blade, Philip recounted.

"Saif Sir somehow managed to get away from him and we all ran out of the room and pulled the door shut," she said, adding that the family retreated to the upper floor of their home.

The intruder eventually fled the scene, she added.