On Sunday, the Mumbai Police stated that the individual arrested for the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan is suspected to be a Bangladeshi national, a conclusion drawn from evidence found among his possessions. In a media briefing, police confirmed that the attacker had taken on the name Vijay Das upon entering India.
DCP Zone 9, Dixit Gedam, identified the suspect as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, a 30-year-old man who allegedly entered Saif Ali Khan’s residence with the intent to rob. Gedam indicated that preliminary investigations suggest the accused is of Bangladeshi descent, having entered India illegally and subsequently changed his name.
Reports indicate that he arrived in Mumbai approximately 5 to 6 months ago, initially residing in the city before moving to its outskirts. The suspect was employed by a housekeeping agency, according to police sources.
“On January 16, at around 2 am, an attack occurred at Saif Ali Khan’s residence. An FIR was filed, and the suspect was arrested soon after. His identity as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, aged 30, has been confirmed. He broke into the home with robbery in mind. He will be presented in court, where a request for custody will be made, and further investigations will follow,” Gedam stated while raising concerns regarding the suspect’s Bangladeshi background.
He pointed out credible evidence for these suspicions, such as the lack of valid Indian documentation and items seized that suggest his nationality.
Previous reports indicated that the suspect had been using multiple aliases, including Vijay Das and Bijoy Das. The main suspect was intercepted in the early hours of Sunday in Thane West, Maharashtra.
Actor Saif Ali Khan was reportedly assaulted multiple times in his upscale apartment located in Mumbai’s Bandra area during a burglary attempt in the early hours of Thursday.
The actor resides on the 12th floor of the ‘Satguru Sharan’ building. At the time of the incident, Saif Ali Khan was at home with his wife, fellow actor Kareena Kapoor, and their two children, four-year-old Jeh and eight-year-old Taimur.