MUMBAI: In a shocking incident, actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times when he tried to stop an attempted burglary at his Bandra residence in Mumbai. The actor was hospitalised immediately after the attack and underwent a surgery to remove the knife and repair leaking spinal fluid. Doctors said he was stable and out of danger. The police have identified the intruder, who used the fire escape to enter the house and escape.
The attempted burglary incident took place at around 2am. The actor, with his wife Kareena Kapoor and two sons, lives in a 12-storey building at Bandra (West). Khan’s house help Eliyama Phillipes was the first to spot the intruder. Her screams alerted Khan, who tried to confront the intruder. However, the intruder stabbed the actor six times before fleeing.
The police said they have identified the intruder and he will be arrested soon. Deputy commissioner of police Dixit Gedam said, “It has been discovered that the accused used the fire escape to enter their house. So far, the investigation suggests that it was an attempted burglary. There are 10 detection teams working in different directions. We are making every effort to arrest the suspect as soon as possible. Once he is arrested, we will be able to disclose further details.”
According to police sources, CCTV cameras have captured the intruder entering and exiting the building from the rear side. He scaled the compound wall of the actor’s building and then climbed stairs on the rear side of the building to reach the floor on which the actor lives. He gained access to Khan’s apartment through a fire escape.
Khan was rushed to Lilavati hospital with six injuries. Among these, one was dangerously close to his spine.
Dr Nitin Dange who performed surgery said, “Saif Ali Khan sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord due to a lodged knife in the spine. A surgery was performed to remove the knife and repair leaking spinal fluid. Two other deep wounds on his left hand and another on his neck were repaired by the plastic surgery team. He is completely stable now. He is recovering well and out of danger.”
Other family members were safe, the police said.
A statement issued by Kareena Kapoor’s team said, “There was an attempted burglary at Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s residence last night. Khan had an injury on his arm for which he is in hospital, undergoing a procedure. The rest of the family is doing fine. We request the media and fans to be patient and not speculate any further as the police are already conducting their investigations.”
The incident sent shockwaves across Maharashtra with fans, celebrities and politicians expressing their concerns. The opposition parties said the attack on Khan once again exposed deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
NCP founder Sharad Pawar said, “Recently, a person (former minister Baba Siddique) was killed in the same area and now this incident. All these things are worrisome. The state government, especially the chief minister, who holds charge of the home department, should pay attention to these things more seriously.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that police protection is provided only to turncoat politicians in Maharashtra. “No one is safe. Let alone ordinary people, even celebrities who have their own security are not safe. There is no fear of law. The government stands exposed,” he said.
However, Mr. Fadnavis dismissed the opposition claims and asserted that Mumbai is the safest city in India.
The Maharashtra CM said, “The incident is serious, but wrong to brand the city as unsafe.”
