Saif Ali Khan's friend Afsar Zaidi dismisses reports of delay in actor reaching the hospital; confirms Taimur accompanied him

A hospital document surfaced, listing the Pataudis’ family friend, Afsar Zaidi, as the person who brought Saif to the hospital.

Saif Ali Khan's stabbing incident has sparked widespread speculation and a flurry of conspiracy theories, particularly regarding how the actor reached Lilavati Hospital after the attack. The incident, which occurred at Saif's Bandra home last Thursday, has raised questions about the timing of his hospital admission and the individuals accompanying him.

Reports initially suggested that Saif’s son, Taimur, or his elder son, Ibrahim, might have accompanied him to the hospital. However, a hospital document surfaced, listing the Pataudis’ family friend, Afsar Zaidi, as the person who brought Saif to the hospital. This revelation fueled rumours of a delay in Saif’s treatment.

The hospital admission form, required for cases involving police action, shows Zaidi's name against the column “brought to the hospital by” and notes the admission time as 4:11 am. Considering that Saif was attacked around 2:30 am, this led to questions about why it took nearly two hours for him to be admitted to the hospital.

Speaking to India Today, Zaidi clarified the situation, denying that he brought Saif to the hospital. He stated that he only received a call from the Pataudi family at approximately 3:30 am, asking him to assist with Saif’s admission process. The signature on the form, Zaidi explained, was necessary because Taimur, who accompanied Saif, was too young to complete the paperwork.

Addressing reports about the timing, Zaidi emphasised that Saif had already reached the hospital before 4:11 am. Lilavati Hospital COO Dr Niraj Uttamani corroborated this, confirming that Saif arrived around 3:30 am, with the recorded admission time reflecting when Zaidi signed the documents.

Saif, who sustained six injuries, including deep cuts on his neck and back, was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday and has since returned to his Bandra home.

Police investigations revealed that the intruder, a Bangladeshi national, attacked Saif while attempting a burglary and was unaware of his celebrity status. Temporary police protection has been provided to Saif, Kareena Kapoor, and their two children, Taimur and Jeh, to ensure their safety.

The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.