Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan survives late-night knife attack at Mumbai home

Mumbai: A knife-wielding intruder stabbed Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, 54, several times in his luxury high-rise apartment in the upmarket Mumbai locality of Bandra early on Thursday. The assault took place at around 2:30 am near Jeh's room. Immediately after the assault, he was rushed to Lilavati Hospital with the knife still in his spine, from where doctors reported doing emergency surgery. They said six stab wounds included one in his neck and added that the star was now out of danger.

Family was home when attack happened

Saif Ali Khan, his wife Kareena Kapoor, and their two sons, Jeh, four years old, and Taimur, eight years old, were at home when the attack occurred. The family resides in a 12-story luxury apartment with five house helpers. According to a police report, Jeh's nanny, Eliyama Philip, was the first to face the armed attacker who allegedly demanded ₹1 crore.

A security breach in Bandra

Police said the intruder did not break in but probably came in earlier to rob. The suspect, who was seen in CCTV footage as a man with a red scarf and carrying a backpack, fled down the stairs from the sixth floor. Although the building has a reputation for being highly secured, the attacker managed to slip out without any alarm being triggered, leaving so many questions regarding the safety measures of the building.

Unanswered questions surrounding the attack

The fire escape route: The burglar entered the children's room undetected. The investigators now raise questions on the security measures taken in this fire escape route.
Watchman's negligence or system blind spot: According to reports, the building's watchman did not detect any suspicious activity. He may have been negligent or the system had some blind spots.
Inside job: The investigators suspect the involvement of house staff and laborers who were working on ongoing renovations.
Knowledge of Building Layout: The attacker’s movements suggest familiarity with the building, raising suspicions of premeditation or insider assistance.
CCTV Evasion: Although some footage captured the intruder, gaps in surveillance coverage are under scrutiny.

Police investigation underway

Mumbai Police are intensifying efforts to apprehend the assailant, conducting detailed inquiries with building staff and analyzing additional CCTV footage to trace the intruder’s route and motive.