Saif Ali Khan attacker remains at large, Minister Yogesh Kadam rules out underworld involvement

Saif Ali Khan

The intruder who stabbed Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his Mumbai residence is still at large, despite over 30 police teams being deployed to track him down. A Maharashtra minister has ruled out any links to the underworld in this brutal attack.

According to police, the attacker was not affiliated with any criminal gang and likely didn’t know whose house he had entered. In the course of their investigation, police detained a carpenter on Friday morning who resembled the intruder. He was taken to the Bandra police station for questioning but was later released. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Yogesh Kadam, Maharashtra's Minister of State for Home (Urban), stated that the motive behind the attack on Saif Ali Khan was robbery. He also confirmed that no underworld gang was involved in the incident.

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. 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,” said the senior official.

Over 30 police teams have been formed to apprehend the intruder who stabbed Saif Ali Khan during a robbery attempt at his 12th-floor apartment. CCTV footage captured the attacker, who was seen wearing a red scarf and carrying a backpack, hurriedly descending the stairs of the 'Satguru Sharan' building at around 2:30 AM, after the incident.

Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan is recovering well at Lilavati Hospital, where he was rushed following the brutal attack early Thursday. The actor, who sustained multiple stab wounds, including one to his neck, underwent emergency surgery after being brought to the hospital in an autorickshaw. Doctors have confirmed that Saif is expected to be discharged in two to three days, as his condition improves.

"We are observing his progress, and he is doing excellently well according to our expectations. As per his progress, we have advised him bed rest, and if he is comfortable, then in two to three days, we will discharge him," said Dr Nitin Dange, a neurosurgeon at Lilavati Hospital. He said a team of doctors checked on him and made him walk. "Khan had four main wounds, which were a little deep, two in the hand, one on the neck and the most deep and dangerous was in the spine," said the neurosurgeon, who led the team of doctors who operated on the actor.

Doctors successfully removed a 2.5-inch knife fragment from Saif Ali Khan’s spine during surgery, highlighting that a mere 2 mm deeper penetration could have led to a severe injury. While the procedure was successful, a spinal fluid leak required immediate repair, necessitating close observation. Fortunately, his recovery has been progressing well, with no neurological complications. His wounds are healing, and his overall health has improved significantly. As a result, he has been moved out of the ICU to a special room, according to Dr. Dange.

"Today, we will be keeping visitors in check because we want him to take a rest. The only thing we have advised is that he has to take rest for some time because of the wounds on the back especially, which can have chances of infection, and his movements are restricted for almost a week. Besides visitors, his own movements are being restricted for a faster recovery," said the surgeon. Doctors successfully removed the sharp object and repaired the spinal injury, as explained by the medical team. Meanwhile, a photo of the knife blade, which was used in the attack, quickly went viral on social media. "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," he maintained.

Dr. Dange described how Saif Ali Khan, despite being drenched in blood, walked into the hospital with remarkable strength, accompanied by his young son Taimur. "When Sir Wali Sahib (referring to Khan) arrived at the hospital, he was covered in blood but walked in like a lion, holding his 6 to 7-year-old son," the doctor said.

Also read: Saif Ali Khan recovering well, expected to be discharged in two to three days, confirms doctors

Meanwhile, Bhajan Singh Rana, the autorickshaw driver who took Saif to Lilavati Hospital, has gained media attention and is being praised as a hero. Rana, however, revealed that he had no idea the blood-soaked passenger he was ferrying was the renowned actor and Padma Shri awardee Saif Ali Khan. “It was only when we reached the hospital gate that he called the guard to fetch a stretcher, saying he was Saif Ali Khan,” he told reporters.