Police in Mumbai have apprehended a man in connection with a recent knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan.
The arrested individual, Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, initially identified as a Bangladeshi national residing in India illegally, faces allegations which his lawyer vehemently denies, asserting his client is not from Bangladesh.
Shehzad was taken into custody in Thane, a district on the outskirts of Mumbai. According to Dixit Gedam, a deputy commissioner of the Mumbai police, preliminary investigations indicate that Shehzad arrived in the city six months ago and was employed by a housekeeping agency under an assumed identity.
Authorities suspect Shehzad of breaking into Khan's residence with the intent to rob him.
Following his arrest, Shehzad was remanded to police custody for five days by a Mumbai court. Despite the accusations, his lawyer highlighted a lack of documentary evidence supporting his Bangladeshi nationality claim.
The assault on Khan has garnered national attention, underscoring concerns over safety in Mumbai, India's bustling financial hub. During the attack at Khan's upscale home, he sustained multiple stab wounds, including one to the back of his neck.
A nurse employed at Khan's residence, Eliyama Philip, recounted to the police how she encountered the assailant demanding a significant sum of money before a scuffle ensued, resulting in injuries to herself and Khan. Khan and his wife intervened during the altercation before the attacker fled.
Numerous men were detained based on their resemblance to the assailant captured on CCTV footage exiting the building.
This report includes additional information provided by Alpesh Karkare for BBC Marathi.