Police say no bail for Saif Ali Khan attacker, call him a Flight Risk

In a major update on the January attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, the Mumbai Police have firmly opposed the bail plea of the Bangladeshi national accused of stabbing the actor at his Bandra residence. The police submitted a detailed response to the Mumbai sessions court on Thursday, July 24, stating that there is strong evidence against the accused, identified as Shariful Islam.

Knife fragments matched with weapon used in attack

Police cited a report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to back their claims. According to the report, three knife fragments; two found lodged near Khan’s spine and one recovered from the crime scene, perfectly matched the knife seized from the accused. Investigators say these were all parts of the same weapon used in the violent assault.

What happened?

The shocking incident took place on January 16, when Khan was attacked by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra during what police believe was a robbery attempt. The 54-year-old actor, Saif Ali Khan was sustained serious injuries and had to undergo surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a knife fragment lodged dangerously close to his spine. He was discharged after five days of treatment.

Accused is an illegal resident, may flee if granted bail

Shariful Islam was arrested two days after the incident. In court, the Mumbai Police stressed that the accused is a Bangladeshi national living illegally in India. They argued that if released on bail, there’s a high risk that he might escape and avoid facing trial. Given the severity of the crime and the strong evidence available, the police requested that his bail be denied.

Accused claims innocence and no criminal record

Shariful Islam, through his lawyer Vipul Dushing, has denied the charges and claimed he is innocent. He also stated that he has no past criminal record. In his plea, he mentioned that the investigation is nearly complete, and only the chargesheet is yet to be filed, making him eligible for bail.

The accused has been charged under various sections of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to house trespass, robbery, and attempted murder.