“No Doubts”: Mumbai Police Confirm Arrested Man is Saif Ali Khan’s Attacker

Mumbai, 29th January 2025: Is the arrested individual truly the attacker in the Saif Ali Khan stabbing case? The Mumbai Police put rumours to rest on Tuesday, confirming that the right person is in custody.
“Yes, we have the correct accused,” said Paramjit Singh Dahiya, Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai. “We have enough evidence—technical, physical, and testimonial—to prove that he is indeed the attacker, and there is no doubt about it.”
This statement came in response to media claims suggesting a possible mix-up in the arrest. The senior officer firmly dismissed such reports, emphasizing the solid evidence against the accused.
Saif Ali Khan was stabbed five times—on his back, wrist, neck, shoulder, and elbow—during a break-in at his Mumbai residence in the early hours of January 16. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in an autorickshaw by a friend. The actor, known for over 70 movies and TV shows, returned home within a week of the incident.
Amid rumours that the 19 sets of fingerprints collected from Khan’s home did not match those of the arrested suspect, Shariful Islam, the police clarified that they have not yet received the fingerprint report. “We haven’t received any report so far. We expect to get it soon,” a police official stated.
Islam, after being on the run for over 70 hours, was arrested on January 19 near Hiranandani Estate in Kasarvadavali, Thane, about 35 kilometres from Khan’s residence. He was remanded in police custody.
Islam’s lawyer argued in court that the accusations were false, claiming that his client was being framed in the high-profile case simply because of the celebrity involved.
In another development, the police recorded the statement of a woman from West Bengal, whose Aadhar card was used by Islam to buy a sim card.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged the public not to create confusion about the case. “The police are conducting a thorough investigation and are close to concluding,” he said.
Earlier, the father of a man detained as a suspect in Durg, Chhattisgarh, criticized the Mumbai police for damaging his son’s life. “People say my son doesn’t resemble the accused. He lost his job, and his engagement was called off. The police’s actions have ruined his future,” the father lamented.