Mumbai: Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad, accused in the stabbing of Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan, has filed a bail petition in the Mumbai Sessions Court, asserting his innocence and alleging that the case against him is fabricated.
The attack occurred in the early hours of January 16, when the accused allegedly entered Saif’s Bandra residence through his youngest son Jeh’s room. Saif, attempting to fend off the intruder, sustained multiple stab wounds. Despite his injuries, he managed to reach the hospital on his own, accompanied by his son Taimur.
Shahzad’s petition, filed through his lawyer, argues that the FIR was wrongly registered and that he has cooperated fully with the investigation. His legal team maintains that all evidence is already in police custody, eliminating any risk of tampering, and therefore, he should be granted bail.
The case, currently under the jurisdiction of the Bandra Magistrate Court, will be transferred to the Mumbai Sessions Court once the police file a charge sheet, which is yet to be submitted.
According to media reports, doctors removed a 2.5-inch knife from one of Saif’s wounds. The actor sustained six stab injuries, two of which were near his spine and considered serious. The incident occurred around 2:15 am when the accused allegedly broke into the house, attacked the house help, and then stabbed Saif when he intervened.
Saif was alerted by noises from Jeh’s room and discovered the intruder in an altercation with the house help. Attempting to protect the staff, he fought off the attacker with his bare hands before being repeatedly stabbed.
Investigations revealed that the accused, a Bangladeshi national, intended to rob a wealthy individual to fund his mother’s medical treatment in his home country. He has a history of petty theft and was previously dismissed from restaurants in Worli and Thane for stealing.
Reports indicate that the attacker was unaware of Saif Ali Khan’s celebrity status and had chosen the residence purely because it was in an upscale apartment complex.
With IANS inputs