The Bangladeshi national accused of stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has filed a bail application, claiming he has been falsely implicated in the case. The accused, Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad (30), was arrested two days after the brutal attack on Saif at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai, on January 16.
Saif Ali Khan, 54, was stabbed multiple times by an intruder inside his upscale apartment, leading to his hospitalization and emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital.
Accused Claims Unlawful Arrest
In his bail plea, filed through advocate Ajay Gawali before the sessions court on Friday, Shariful argued that his arrest was illegal and arbitrary. He alleged that the investigating agency violated Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which mandates informing an accused about the grounds of arrest and their right to bail.
The plea also pointed out that even if the witnesses’ statements are presumed accurate, they fail to satisfy the criteria under Section 311 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with robbery or dacoity committed with intent to cause death or grievous hurt.
Shariful contended that the investigation is almost complete, with all necessary recovery and discovery conducted. Since the only remaining step is the filing of the chargesheet, he argued that further detention would serve “no useful purpose”.
CCTV Footage and Evidence
The Mumbai Police claim that CCTV footage from January 9 — a week before the stabbing — helped identify Shariful. The footage allegedly shows him wandering around the Dadar railway station area, as well as parts of Prabhadevi and Worli Koliwada, near Saif’s home.
Despite this, Shariful maintains his innocence and insists that his arrest was unwarranted. The plea will be heard on April 1.
Public Reactions and Concerns
Fans of Saif Ali Khan and the public at large have been following the case closely, expressing both outrage and shock over the incident. While many are calling for strict punishment, others are urging for a fair trial to ensure that justice prevails.
What are your thoughts on this development? Should the court grant bail to the accused, or should he remain in custody given the severity of the charges?
