Following reports on Friday that a man detained in Mumbai was allegedly connected to the recent attack on actor Saif Ali Khan, the Mumbai Police have clarified that there is no link between the detainee and the incident.
Earlier in the day, visuals emerged of the man being escorted to the Bandra police station, sparking speculation about his possible connection to the stabbing case. However, sources did not confirm whether he was the same person involved in the attack on Khan’s residence the previous day.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Maharashtra: Members of staff at the residence of actor <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaifAliKhan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaifAliKhan</a> being brought out of Bandra Police Station. They were brought here by Police for inquiry and now they are all going back. <br><br>As per Mumbai Police, no one has been detained in Saif Ali Khan attack case as… <a href="https://t.co/7uVwLifE7x">pic.twitter.com/7uVwLifE7x</a></p>— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1880230540600881277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
By Friday afternoon, a senior Mumbai Police officer addressed the confusion, stating that the individual being questioned at the Bandra Police Station was not involved in the attack on Saif Ali Khan. The officer emphasized that no one had been arrested or detained in relation to the case.
The police believe the attacker, who struck early Thursday morning, was seen near the Bandra railway station. Investigations suggest that the assailant changed his clothes, boarded a train, and may have fled to areas in Vasai and Nalasopara, both located in Palghar district.
To locate the attacker, the Mumbai Police initially deployed 15 teams but increased the number to 20 by Thursday evening, alongside the use of technical data and informant networks. Despite these efforts, the breakthrough has yet to occur, even 36 hours after the attack.
The intruder reportedly entered the “Satguru Sharan” building, a 12-storey structure in the upscale Bandra area, with the intent to rob. The police suspect that the assailant may have been familiar with one of the house staff members, allowing him to bypass CCTV cameras in the building's lobby.
Authorities believe the intruder was acquainted with the building’s layout and used the fire shaft to gain access to the top floors, possibly scaling a wall from an adjacent compound.
The break-in lasted about 30 minutes on the 11th floor, during which Saif Ali Khan and the house staff tried to confront the intruder. Khan’s younger son Jeh’s nanny was injured while attempting to stop the attacker, and the actor sustained six injuries in the altercation. Khan, who was left bleeding, was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery and is now in stable condition.
Despite the escape of the intruder, CCTV footage captured him descending the stairs on the building’s sixth floor. This incident has raised concerns regarding the security measures at the upscale Bandra locality, drawing criticism from opposition parties over the law and order situation in Mumbai.
A case of robbery, trespassing, and causing grievous harm has been filed by the Mumbai Police.