Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed in his Mumbai home during a robbery attempt in the early hours of Thursday. The attacker remains at large despite an extensive search by over 30 police teams. Here are the top developments we know so far:
-Mumbai Police on Friday brought a person to the Bandra police station who resembled the intruder from CCTV footage but later released him after verifying his alibi. “The person detained in the morning 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,” said a senior police official.
-Cops said that the stabbing incident seems to a stray one. “The alleged intruder was not working for any gang as per prima facie investigation. He probably was not even aware whose house he had entered in,” the police official said.
-Maharashtra Minister of State for Home (Urban) Yogesh Kadam confirmed the robbery motive behind the attack and ruled out any involvement of underworld gangs.
-The intruder’s face was captured on CCTV, showing him wearing a red scarf and carrying a backpack as he fled from the building, around 2:30 a.m. Khan’s apartment is located on the 12th floor of the ‘Satguru Sharan’ building.
-Saif Ali Khan, who suffered multiple stab wounds, including to his neck, underwent emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital and is expected to recover fully. Doctors confirmed that his health is improving, and he was moved from the ICU to a special room.
-“He is very lucky. We repaired the leaking spinal fluid and the dura which was there. We had to do a repair, which was successful. Today when we made him walk, he was completely okay to walk. He is on a regular diet,” said the surgeon treating Khan.
-Doctors have advised that Khan’s movements be restricted for about a week to avoid complications, especially due to his back injuries, which could lead to infection. “Only thing we have advised is that he has to take rest for some time, because of the wounds on the back especially,” a doctor said.
-Khan, drenched in blood, was rushed to the hospital in an autorickshaw by Bhajan Singh Rana, who did not initially recognise the actor. “It was only when we reached the hospital gate that he called the guard to fetch a stretcher, saying he was Saif Ali Khan,” Rana said.
Rana recalled that while passing by Khan’s building, a woman and others had asked him to stop the rickshaw. “The person whose white kurta was soaked in blood got in the auto. I noticed he had neck and back injuries, but did not notice the hand injury,” said Rana. Khan’s son, Taimur, was with him during the ordeal. “There was a seven-eight year old boy who also boarded the rickshaw,” Rana said, confirming Taimur’s presence as they headed to the hospital.