Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th-floor apartment in upscale Bandra early Thursday in a shocking attack that raises intriguing questions about security, motive, and celebrity life.
Khan, 54, was "out of danger" following emergency surgery, said the doctors at the Lilavati Hospital where he was rushed following the incident that took place around 2.30 am at his apartment in `Satguru Sharan' building.
A 2.5-inch piece of knife was removed from his spine, the doctors said, adding he was on a "100 per cent recovery path".
Police registered a case of `armed robbery with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt'. The attacker fled using the building's staircase, a senior police official said, adding that his CCTV visuals was traced on the sixth floor, and 10 teams have been formed to nab him.
Reports said that the attcker has been identified and statewide search operations are on to apprehend him.
Khan's domestic help, who raised the alarm first, also sustained a minor injury to her hand during the scuffle. She later lodged a police complaint.
Reports also said that the intruder took Khan's domestic help as hostage and demanded a sum of ₹1 crore.
Opposition leaders in Maharashtra said even celebrities were not safe in India's financial capital, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, has failed to maintain law and order. Fadnavis, however, said the attack was a serious incident, but it would be wrong to call Mumbai unsafe because of it, and the police were taking action in the matter.
As per the preliminary probe, the intruder did not force his entry or break into the actor's flat, but possibly sneaked in at some point during the night.
Khan's domestic staff took him to Lilavati Hospital in an auto rickshaw after the incident. He was operated upon by a team of doctors led by neurosurgeon Dr Nitin Dange, cosmetic surgeon Dr Leena Jain and anaesthesiologist Dr Nisha Gandhi.
Medical reports
"He sustained six injuries, two are minor, two intermediate and two deep injuries, one of the injuries is on the back which is close to spine," the hospital's chief operating officer Dr Niraj Uttamani told reporters.
"Saif sustained a major injury to his thoracic spine due to a knife.....Surgery was performed to remove the knife and also to repair the leaking spinal fluid," said Dr Dange.
"There were two other deep wounds in his left hand and right side of the neck which were repaired by the plastic surgery team.
Khan is completely stable now. He is in recovery mode and is completely out of danger," Dr Dange added.
According to Dr Uttamani, the actor was "on 100 per cent recovery path as per our initial understanding." "He has been shifted to the ICU. Maybe in a day or two, he will be shifted to the (non-ICU) ward," he added.
Incident reported as attempted burglary
The actor's representatives described the incident as an "attempted burglary".
A First Information Report was registered at Bandra police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 311 (robbery with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 331 (4) (house break-in or trespass at night) and other relevant provisions.
Saif's wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, and some other members of the family were present in the house when the incident took place.
The son of actor Sharmila Tagore and late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Saif Ali Khan is known for his performances in films like "Omkara", "Dil Chahta Hai", "Kal Ho Naa Ho" and "Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior". He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri award.
CM Fadnavis responds
Talking to reporters, Chief Minister Fadnavis asserted that Mumbai is a safe city. "I think Mumbai is the safest among mega cities in the country. It is true that some incidents take place sometimes, and they must be taken seriously. But to say that Mumbai is unsafe due to such incidents is not right," he said.
"....But, to make the city safer, the government will certainly make efforts," he added.
He was talking to the media after attending a special screening of Kangana Ranaut-directed film "Emergency".
Opposition leaders including state Congress chief Nana Patole have targeted Fadnavis over the attack on Saif Ali Khan, demanding his resignation as home minister.
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