Mumbai: The brutal knife attack on actor Saif Ali Khan (54) in his apartment in Bandra early on Thursday morning remains a big mystery. A number of questions remained unanswered:
* How did the assailant gain entry into the apartment early morning despite the presence of guards in his building Satguru Sharan apartments, St Theresa Road, Bandra (W)?
* Even during daytime visitors would have been questioned and asked to enter their name and mobile number in the register. Why this procedure was not followed in the case of the assailant?
* Reports suggested that the assailant jumped over a wall from a neighbouring building. If this was the case why he was not apprehended by the guards concerned?
* The assailant is believed to have used the emergency fire staircase to reach the 12th floor apartment. This staircase is covered by CCTV cameras. How come none of the guards who are supposed to monitor movements of people on a monitor not spot the assailant?
* Was the assailant a frequent visitor known to the guards?
* The most crucial question is how did the assailant gain entry into the apartment?
* Since there was no sign of forced entry, who opened the door for him? Was he known to the person who opened the door for him?
* After entering the apartment he is believed to have tip toed towards the room where Saif-Kareena’s son Jeh was asleep. Why did the housemaid not raise an alarm when the assailant entered the living room?
* The assailant was believed to have in the bathroom. How did he gain access to the bathroom without anyone spotting him?
* The assailant is believed to have demanded one crore rupees from the maid. If true what made him think that a crore in cash would be lying about in the flat and that the maid would have access to it?
* What was the relationship between the assailant and the maid? Were they known to each other?
* The assailant was well-built. When he was confronted by Saif he stabbed the actor as many as six times. The ferocity of the attack indicates that he wanted to murder the star. What did stand to gain by attempting to murder Saif? Was he given `supari’ by someone to eliminate Saif?
* Why did the building security guards not stop the assailant as he climbed down the staircase with his backpack?
* Bandra (W) is a sensitive suburb where several celebs reside. How come night patrol vans not spot an armed man on the prowl late at night?
* Kareena had accomapanied Saif when he went to confront the assailant. She was unhurt. But it was left to the house maid to rush Saif to Lilavati Hospital and that too in an autorickshaw?
In the attack, Saif sustained serious injuries to his spine, left hand, and the right side of his neck. A profusely bleeding Saif was rushed to Lilavati Hospital by his maid in an autorickshaw and not by his son Ibrahim as reported in a section of the media.
The police have identified the accused but are yet to arrest him. CCTV footage shows the accused carrying a back pack while descending the stairs at 2.33 am. He is fair and appears to 5’6″ in height and appears to be a fitness buff. He does not appear to be from any gang and was a lone wolf.
Saif’s residence is a duplex apartment on the 12th floor of the Satguru Sharan building. According to the police, the accused climbed the building’s staircase and later fled the same way after attacked. He reportedly hid on the 6th floor before climbing to the 12th floor.
The intruder allegedly entered the room of Saif’s younger son, Jahangir aka called Jeh (4). Both Jahangir and the maid, Aliamma Philips (alias Lima), were asleep. According to unconfirmed reports the intruder planned to kidnap Jeh and then demand a huge ransom.
Upon noticing the intruder, the maid screamed for help. The accused first attacked her with a sharp knife, causing injuries to her right palm.
Hearing the maid’s screams, Saif rushed to the room and attempted to intervene. During the scuffle, the intruder stabbed Saif six times with a sharp knife. Saif sustained a wound on his neck, along with injuries to his left forearm and spine. A small part of the knife measuring 2.5″ was got stuck near the spine and it was surgically removed.
Dr. Niraj Uttamani, Chief Operating Officer of Lilavati Hospital, said, “Fortunately, Saif Ali Khan’s surgery went very well. He is on the path to recovery. The operation is over, and he has been shifted to the ICU. He will be moved to the normal ward in a day or two. Despite the severity of the injuries, our medical team managed the situation well.”
Dr. Nitin Dange, Neurosurgeon at Lilavati Hospital, stated, “Saif Ali Khan was admitted early this morning at around 3:00 a.m. following an alleged assault at his residence. He sustained a major injury to the thoracic spine due to a knife lodged in his spine. Surgery was performed to remove the knife’s part and repair the leaking spinal fluid. Two additional deep wounds, one on his left hand and another on the right side of his neck, were repaired by the plastic surgery team led by Dr. Leena Jain. He was also monitored by Dr. Srinivas Kudva, the cardiologist. He is now completely stable, recovering, and out of danger.”
Dixit Gedam, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 9, stated, “The investigation revealed that the motive behind the attack was robbery. We have identified the accused and are currently examining 20-25 CCTV footage recordings. Preliminary findings suggest the accused climbed the fire escape staircase to reach the actor’s residence. After the incident, his family rushed him to Lilavati Hospital. The incident occurred between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. We are formed ten teams for investigation and the investigation ongoing. We have yet to recover the weapon”
According to sources, a few days a furniture work was going on at Saif’s residence. The police are inquiring those workers as well.
Based on the maid Philippe’s complaint, the Bandra Police registered an FIR against the unidentified individual under sections 311 (robbery or decoity with the intention of causing grievous hurt or death), 312 (Crime of attempting to commit robbery or dacoity while armed with a deadly weapon), 331(4) (house-trespass or house-breaking at night with the intention of committing a crime), 331(6) (house-breaking or lurking house-trespass at night after preparing to cause harm), and 331(7) (causing grievous hurt while committing house-breaking or lurking house-trespass) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
