Accused a suspected history-sheeter

Mumbai: Police sources said that the accused in the Saif Ali Khan attack case is a history-sheeter with several cases of theft and burglaries, he had reportedly carried out a recce of the Khan home before the operation and knew exactly where and how to proceed, dodging security and cameras.

The teams which included former encounter specialist Daya Nayak and others reached the Khan home, scoured the CCTVs in the building and the vicinity, detained at least three staffers and questioned one of the woman helpers for over four hours.

The murderous attack on Saif, 54, who is married to Kareena Kapoor, and is the current titular head of the Kingdom of Pataudi (in modern day Haryana), sparked angry reactions from top Bollywood and political personalities who slammed the government over the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the city.

Hailing from a royal lineage, Saif is the son of famed ex-Bollywood heartthrob Sharmila Tagore-Khan and the legendary cricketer Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi of the erstwhile princely state of Pataudi, who holds the record for being the youngest Captain of Team India (1962), when he was just 21 years old.

Khan’s domestic help, who raised alarm first, also sustained a minor injury to her hand during the scuffle. She later lodged a police complaint.

Opposition leaders said even celebrities were not safe in India's financial capital, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, has failed to maintain law and order. Fadnavis, however, said the attack was a serious incident, but it would be wrong to call Mumbai unsafe because of it, and the police were taking action in the matter.

As per the preliminary probe, the intruder did not force his entry or break into the actor's flat, but possibly sneaked in at some point during the night.

Khan's domestic staff took him to Lilavati Hospital in an auto rickshaw after the incident. He was operated upon by a team of doctors led by neurosurgeon Dr Nitin Dange, cosmetic surgeon Dr Leena Jain and anaesthesiologist Dr Nisha Gandhi. “Saif sustained a major injury to his thoracic spine due to a knife. Surgery was performed to remove the knife and also to repair the leaking spinal fluid, said Dr Dange. “There were two other deep wounds in his left hand and right side of the neck which were repaired by the plastic surgery team.

Talking to reporters, Chief Minister Fadnavis asserted that Mumbai is a safe city. "I think Mumbai is the safest among mega cities in the country. It is true that some incidents take place sometimes, and they must be taken seriously. But to say that Mumbai is unsafe due to such incidents is not right," he said. "....But, to make the city safer, the government will certainly make efforts," he added.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said the incident shows that the law-and-order situation was deteriorating in Maharashtra

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"Recently, a person was killed in the same area and now this incident. All these things are worrisome," Pawar told reporters at Baramati. "The state government, especially the chief minister who holds charge of the home department, should pay attention to these things more seriously," the former Maharashtra chief minister said.

In October last year, former state minister Baba Siddique was shot dead by three persons in Bandra area.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, "No one is safe. Let alone ordinary people, even celebrities who have their own security are not safe."

Fadnavis had completely failed to maintain law and order, said Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe.

Prominent politicians including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Chiranjeevi, expressed shock over the attack on Saif Ali Khan.

"It's very concerning to hear about the attack on noted actor Saif Ali Khan. I pray for his speedy recovery, trusting that the law will take its course and those responsible will be held accountable. My thoughts and prayers are with Sharmila Di, Kareena Kapoor, and the entire family during this difficult time," Banerjee posted on X.

Kejriwal said, "Shocked to hear about the attack on Saif Ali Khan. Wishing him a speedy recovery and strength to his family during this difficult time."

Proud of you brother: Saba Pataudi

Jewellery designer Saba Pataudi on Thursday reacted to the knife attack on Saif Ali Khan and said she is in "shock" but proud of her elder brother for the way he defended his family from an intruder. "I'm in shock and reeling from this insane incident but proud of you bhaijaan. Taking care of the family and standing tall would make Abba so proud. I am. Get well soon. Missing being there. Will see you soon. Duas and prayers always," Saba said in a post on Instagram where she also shared a childhood photo with Saif. Saba, 49, is the middle child of actor Sharmila Tagore and the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Her younger sister is actor Soha Ali Khan.

Intruder took stairs to escape, visuals traced on sixth floor

CCTV visuals of the unidentified intruder who repeatedly stabbed actor Saif Ali Khan inside his apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area early Thursday morning have been traced on the sixth floor of the building, police sources said. The star lives on the 12th floor of Satguru Sharan apartments. As per the sources, the intruder used the staircase to escape after the attack. Khan's domestic help, who raised initial alarm after the incident that took place around 2.30 am, lodged a police complaint for trespassing and attempt to murder, the sources added. A police official said that as per initial information, an unidentified person entered Saif Ali Khan's house and both of them had a scuffle. Some family members of the actor were present in the house at the time of the incident, he said.

Opposition trying to politicise attack: Minister

Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam on Thursday said the opposition was trying to politicise the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, and claimed a wrong angle was being given to the case because of the actor's surname.

The incident was a "theft attempt", and the culprit has been identified and will be nabbed soon, Kadam told a TV channel. Mumbai is a safe place, the minister asserted, and claimed the opposition was trying to malign the police. Kadam said there was no need to link the attack on Saif Ali Khan to former state minister Baba Siddique's murder and threats issued to actor Salman Khan. "The intruder has been identified and will be nabbed soon," he said and claimed that because of the actor's Khan surname, a wrong angle was being given to the case.

"The opposition only wants to politicise the incident. Mumbai is safe and the opposition is maligning the police," he added. NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad claimed the kind of injuries sustained by Saif Ali Khan shows the attacker wanted to kill him.

Celebrities 'shocked'

Jr NTR and Chiranjeevi were among those shocked by the attack on Saif Ali Khan at his home in Mumbai with several people, including Pooja Bhatt, questioning lawlessness in the city and saying she has never felt so unsafe.

The actor, who was injured after the intruder attacked him with a knife at around 2.30 am on Thursday at his Bandra home, was hospitalised and underwent surgery.

Jr NTR, who recently shared screen space with Saif in Telugu hit "Devara", posted on X, "Shocked and saddened to hear about the attack on Saif sir. Wishing and praying for his speedy recovery and good health."

Chiranjeevi wrote, "Deeply Disturbed by news of the attack by an intruder on #SaifAliKhan. Wishing and praying for his speedy recovery."

Actor and BJP MP Ravi Kishan, who worked with Saif on films such as "Agent Vinod" and "Bullet Raja", said the incident is saddening.

"He's my friend and co-actor... Government and police administration is working to nab the culprits. The culprit will be caught soon, Mumbai police has a good reputation. He'll be given strict punishment. Security of actors should be given importance. I pray to lord that Saif recovers soon," Kishan told PTI.

Meanwhile, Bhatt tagged Mumbai Police in a post and questioned the "lawlessness" in the city, which is home to several celebrities as well as top industrialists.

A bullet-proof glass panel was recently installed outside the balcony of Salman Khan's Bandra flat. Two members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had opened fire outside Salman's house last April.