Man detained over knife attack on Bollywood actor
Police in Mumbai have arrested a man in connection with the knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, according to media reports.
Khan was stabbed during a confrontation with an unidentified individual at his home on Thursday morning. The actor is now recovering after undergoing surgery.
Authorities have retrieved CCTV footage from Khan’s residence in the upscale Bandra neighborhood, and initial reports suggest the attack may have been part of a theft attempt.
It remains unclear whether the detained man was the intruder.
The BBC has obtained a statement from Eliyama Philip, a nurse who works at Khan’s home, which sheds light on the night’s events.
Philip, who cares for Khan’s son, said she first noticed a shadow near the bathroom door late at night while in the child’s room with the nanny.
She described a man appearing with a wooden object in one hand and a long blade in the other, warning them to stay silent. She stated that the man demanded 10 million rupees ($115,477; £94,511).
A struggle ensued, during which Philip was injured, while the nanny managed to escape the room.
According to Philip’s account, Khan and his wife, actress Kareena Kapoor, rushed to the scene after hearing the commotion. She said that when Khan confronted the attacker, the man struck him with the blade before fleeing.
Khan sustained several injuries, including one to the back of his neck.
Dr. Nitin Dange of Lilavati Hospital, where Khan is being treated, revealed that the actor arrived with bleeding from his spine and a knife fragment embedded in the wound. The fragment was removed surgically, and the fluid leakage was controlled. Doctors confirmed that prompt medical attention prevented serious spinal damage.
Dr Dange said on Friday that Khan is “better now”.
“We made him walk, and he walked well. Looking at his parameters, his wounds and all the other injuries, he is safe to be shifted out of the ICU. He has to take several precautions.
He has to rest and his movement has been restricted for a week,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai police Dixit Gadam said that the weapon used for the attack has not been found and that they have registered a complaint based on the nurse’s statement.
“The accused used the fire escape ladder to enter,” he said. “The investigation is going on to determine how the house’s door was opened or how the intruder gained access.”
Khan, 54, is also a producer, who has appeared in several films and TV shows over the years. He is known for his quick wit and comic timing.
His portrayal of the antagonist in the 2006 critically acclaimed Omkara was widely praised. He has won multiple awards, including the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2010.
Khan is the son of former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and actor Sharmila Tagore.