Saif Ali Khan's mother and actor Sharmila Tagore at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on Friday. PTI Photo
LIVE | Attack on Saif: 30 police teams on prowl, but intruder still elusive
SaF Ali Khan is recovering well at Lilavati Hospital, where he was taken after the brutal attack by an intruder in the early hours of Thursday that left him with multiple wounds
The intruder who stabbed Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his home in Mumbai remains at large despite more than 30 teams on the lookout for him, while a Maharashtra minister ruled out underworld link to the brutal attack.
The attacker was not working for any criminal gang and probably was not even aware whose house he had entered, police said on Friday, citing their investigation carried out so far.
Carpenter picked up, released later
Police picked up a carpenter in connection with the attack on Khan (54) at his apartment in the wee hours of Thursday as he resembled the intruder and brought him to the Bandra police station for questioning on Friday morning but released him later.
A senior police official clarified that the man was not related to the attack on Khan, and no one has been arrested so far.
"The person detained has been released. He was picked up as he looked like the intruder captured in the CCTV footage. But he had an alibi, which was verified by the police.
Based on that, the detained person has been released. Our probe is still on. We are looking at all angles," said the senior official.
"This seems to be a stray incident. The alleged intruder was not working for any gang, as per the prima facie investigation. He probably was not even aware whose house he had entered in," he added.
30 teams on prowl
He said more than 30 teams have been formed to track down and nab the attacker, who stabbed Khan in his 12th-floor apartment during a robbery attempt.
The attacker's face was captured in CCTV footage. The video showed the assailant, wearing a red scarf and carrying a backpack, scurrying down the stairs from the sixth floor of the 'Satguru Sharan' building, where Khan lives, at around 2.30 am.
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Live Updates
- 16 Jan 2025 2:07 PM GMT
#WATCH | Delhi | On the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan, AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar says, "Arvind Kejriwal asked why the BJP government failed to maintain law and order in any state... Instead of giving answers, former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad held a press… pic.twitter.com/vcAGfZ6kta
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2025 - 16 Jan 2025 2:02 PM GMT
No one safe in Mumbai anymore: Bhupesh Baghel
“No one is safe in a city like Mumbai anymore... If someone can go to the 11th floor of a residential building of a big actor and attack him at night, it shows that Mumbai is no longer safe for anyone... Even Baba Siddiqui was shot dead... This reflects an attitude that prioritises self-interests over addressing the safety concerns of society...," says Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel.
- 16 Jan 2025 1:40 PM GMT
Attacker entered son Jeh’s room, demanded Rs 1 Crore: Nurse
Police quoting testimony given by a nurse at Saif’s house said that the attacker entered his younger son Jeh’s room.
A TOI report quoting Eliyama Philip, a 56-year-old nurse employed at the household, said that the intruder entered four-year-old Jeh’s room while he was asleep.
Philip said the intruder was armed with a stick and a sharp blade and demanded Rs 1 crore from him. When she resisted he assaulted her, causing injuries to her wrists and hand. The altercation woke up the nanny Junu, who raised an alarm. This caused Saif and wife Kareena to rush to the spot, the report says.
Saif tried to confront the intruder and was attacked.
- 16 Jan 2025 1:29 PM GMT
Standing tall would make Abba so proud: Saba Pataudi
Saif's sister Saba Pataudi said she is in "shock" but proud of her elder brother for the way he defended his family from an intruder.
"I'm in shock and reeling from this insane incident but proud of you bhaijaan. Taking care of the family and standing tall would make Abba so proud. I am. Get well soon. Missing being there. Will see you soon. Duas and prayers always," Saba said in a post on Instagram where she also shared a childhood photo with Saif.
Saba, 49, is the middle child of actor Sharmila Tagore and the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Her younger sister is actor Soha Ali Khan.
- 16 Jan 2025 12:50 PM GMT
#WATCH | Mumbai | On the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan, his neighbour and AIMIM leader Waris Pathan says, "Such incidents happening in a posh area of Mumbai like Bandra, where many film stars live, show that the administration has completely failed... Such an attack happening on… pic.twitter.com/3KXCM8QBt7
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2025 - 16 Jan 2025 12:49 PM GMT
Incident creates insecurity that anyone can attack us: Urvashi Rautela
#WATCH | Mumbai: On the attack on actor #SaifAliKhan, actor Urvashi Rautela says, "...It is very unfortunate...This creates an insecurity that anybody can attack us. What happened is very unfortunate...All my prayers are with them (Saif Ali Khan and his family)." pic.twitter.com/fcLtGsWSvG
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2025 - 16 Jan 2025 12:40 PM GMT
Who is Saif’s attacker?
While police are yet to identify the attacker, they have released a CCTV footage of him going down the building’s staircase, to the media.
The CCTV footage, the attacker is seen alighting from the stairwell of the actor’s building at around 2.33 am on Thursday. The suspect is dressed in jeans and t-shirt and seems to be carrying a backpack.
While police have dubbed it a burglary attempt, some reports said the attacker was related to one of the staff at Saif’s house. The staffer is being questioned.
