Mumbai police have detained and are questioning a suspect in connection with the stabbing of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, although authorities have yet to confirm the arrest.
The 54-year-old actor was stabbed six times during a burglary attempt at his home in an upscale Mumbai neighbourhood early Thursday morning. He sustained injuries to his spine, neck, and hands but is reportedly out of danger after undergoing surgery.
CCTV footage seized from the actor’s home has provided initial leads, with police suspecting the attack may have been an attempted theft. However, it is not yet clear whether the detained individual is the assailant.
According to the BBC-accessed a police statement from Eliyama Philip, a nurse employed at Khan’s residence, provided more details of the incident.
Philip, who cares for Khan’s son, said she first noticed a shadow near the bathroom door while she was in the child’s room with the nanny. She described seeing a man armed with a wooden object and a long blade, who warned them to stay silent before demanding ₹10 million (£94,511).
Local media captured images of police escorting a man wearing a white T-shirt into the station, identifying him as the suspect. However, Senior Investigating Officer Dikshit Gedam denied any significant developments in the case.
“There’s no update from yesterday regarding what we said,” Gedam told Reuters, maintaining that no formal detention had been confirmed.
On Thursday, police reported that they had identified the perpetrator of the alleged robbery attempt and launched a search.
The incident unfolded when Khan walked into the hospital, dressed in blood-soaked clothing, with his six-year-old son, Taimur, by his side.
Khan sustained multiple injuries, including one to the back of his neck. Dr Nitin Dange of Lilavati Hospital, where Khan was treated, said the actor arrived with a knife fragment embedded near his spine.
“We removed the fragment surgically and managed fluid leakage. If it had penetrated further, it could have caused severe spinal damage,” Dr Dange said. “He is better now. We made him walk, and he is stable enough to be shifted out of the ICU. However, his movements will remain restricted for a week, and he must rest.”
Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Dixit Gadam, stated that the weapon used in the attack has not yet been recovered. “The accused used the fire escape ladder to enter the premises,” he said. “We are investigating how the house’s door was accessed and the intruder gained entry.”
The attack has sent shockwaves through the Bollywood community and the city of Mumbai. Khan, the son of former cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and celebrated actress Sharmila Tagore, is one of the industry’s most bankable stars, having appeared in numerous films and television series.
In a social media statement, Khan’s wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, appealed to the media to avoid speculation about the case.
“It has been an incredibly challenging day … and we are still trying to process the events,” the 44-year-old actor shared on Instagram.
The couple, who share two young sons, are also parents to Khan’s two children from his previous marriage.
The incident has reignited calls for improved policing and security measures in Mumbai, as residents and industry figures express their concerns over the high-profile attack.