Saif stabbing case: Accused remanded to police custody until January 29

The Bandra Magistrate Court on Friday extended the police custody of Mohd Shariful Islam Shehzad, the accused in the stabbing of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, until January 29. The court observed that there was substantial progress in the investigation and emphasized the need to probe further, given the gravity of the offence.

The court dismissed claims of illegal arrest, stating there was no evidence to support such allegations. It also underscored the necessity of continued custody to verify the innocence of the accused and to investigate other related aspects of the case.

Mumbai Police had sought an extension of the accused’s custody, citing his lack of cooperation in revealing the source of the weapon used in the crime. Officials said that further custody is essential to match his facial features with CCTV footage and recover the shoes he wore during the incident.

In a breakthrough, police recovered a “gamchha” allegedly used by the accused during the crime. They also plan to record the statement of Kolkata resident Khukmoni Jahangir Sheikh, whose Aadhaar card was reportedly used by the accused to purchase a SIM card in Kolkata.

The investigation also involves statements from Saif Ali Khan and his wife, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan. According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan Choudhary, Khan’s statement was recorded at his Bandra residence, ‘Satguru Sharan,’ on Thursday. Kareena’s statement had been taken earlier.

The attack occurred last week when the accused, a Bangladeshi national, broke into Khan’s residence to commit theft. A confrontation ensued, leaving the actor with stab wounds to his thoracic spine and other areas. Khan was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was discharged on Tuesday.

During the investigation, Mumbai Police discovered several fingerprints of the accused at the actor’s residence, including on the staircase, the toilet door, and the handle of the door to Khan’s son Jeh’s room. Officials believe the fingerprints will play a pivotal role in strengthening the case.

Police revealed that the accused had attempted to break into three other houses before targeting Saif Ali Khan’s residence. The investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying any potential accomplices and uncovering further evidence.

(Inputs from ANI)