The Mumbai police have been granted 5 day custody of Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, the Bangladeshi national accused of stabbing actor Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra residence on January 16. The court cited the possibility of an international conspiracy in its decision, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation.
“The accused is a citizen of Bangladesh. The suspicion of international conspiracy cannot be said to be impossible. So, sufficient time has to be given to the investigating officer. Therefore, granting police custody of 5 days,” the court stated.
Shehzad allegedly trespassed into Saif Ali Khan’s residence in the early hours of January 16 and attacked the actor, leaving him with grievous injuries. Two other individuals were also injured during the assault. Saif, 54, was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and is now recovering.
During the court hearing, the investigating officer requested a 14-day custody period to determine how Shehzad entered the country, his motives, and his method of accessing the actor’s secured residence. “Saif Ali Khan sustained grievous injuries, including a knife embedded in his body. We need to investigate how the accused entered the actor’s residence and his motives behind the attack. He is a Bangladeshi national, and it is important to determine how he entered the country. We need 14-day custody,” the officer argued.
The defence lawyer contested the police’s claims, asserting that Shehzad is an Indian citizen residing in Mumbai and accusing authorities of sensationalising the case due to Saif Ali Khan’s celebrity status. ““The matter is being unnecessarily hyped because it involves Saif Ali Khan. Otherwise, it would have been treated as a normal case. The reasons for custody were not clearly stated in the remand application. The accused is a young boy with no prior criminal record and is being made a scapegoat,” the defence argued, adding that Shehzad is unaware of the case details.
The lawyer further alleged that Shehzad’s past connection to Bangladesh was being used to change the narrative. Addressing the media, Shekhane said, 'The angle of the case has been changed just because he is a Bangladeshi"
Also read: Saif Ai Khan attack: accused confesses to the crime, says "Ha maine hi kiya"
Despite the defense’s objections, the court supported the police’s request, stating that the investigation is in its early stages and the arrest occurred only recently. “The investigation is in its early stages, and the accused was arrested only today. Therefore, the grounds for seeking remand for a sufficient period of investigation are justified. The ground of illegalities in the arrest raised by the defense lawyer appear to be without sound reasoning,” the court ruled.
Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan is reported to be stable and recovering well. He is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon, according to doctors.
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