Thirty-year-old Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir – a Bangladeshi national, was on Sunday arrested for allegedly breaking into actor Saif Ali Khan’s residence and attacking him during a burglary attempt in the early hours of January 16.
According to the details, the Mumbai Police had involved more than 300 cops to arrest the accused – an operation, that lasted 72 hours. Nearly 600 CCTV cameras were also scanned in the process.Thirty-year-old Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir – a Bangladeshi national, was on Sunday arrested for allegedly breaking into actor Saif Ali Khan’s residence and attacking him during a burglary attempt in the early hours of January 16.
According to the details, the Mumbai Police had involved more than 300 cops to arrest the accused – an operation, that lasted 72 hours. Nearly 600 CCTV cameras were also scanned in the process.Mumbai Police arrested Shahzad for attacking actor Saif Ali Khan. Financially struggling, Shahzad planned robberies at celebrity homes, including actor Shah Rukh Khan’s and Saif’s. After failing to rob Saif’s house, he attacked the actor and fled
HOW WAS SAIF ALI KHAN’s ATTACKER TRACED?
As the CCTV footage of the building in Bandra where Saif Ali Khan, his wife Kareena Kapoor Khan and their sons live was scanned, the police noticed the suspect leaving the building after the attack.Police then scanned several hours of footage from across the city to locate the suspect.
He was captured on a CCTV camera in DN Nagar in the Andheri area, getting off a two-wheeler. The vehicle was later traced using its registration number.
While the CCTVs were being scanned thoroughly, the police took the help of local intelligence inputs and zeroed in on a rented accommodation at Koliwada in Worli.
The investigating team found that the accused lived with three others, IANS quoted sources in the police as saying.
A police team went to this accommodation and questioned the people living there. They managed to get the suspect’s name and related information. Police also got his phone number and tracked his phone location, the sources added.
The accused was reportedly hiding in a thicket on a deserted road in Thane. Police first surrounded him from all sides and then took him into custody.
SAIF ALI KHAN’s ATTACKER BOUGHT PARATHA, WATER
The accused made a UPI payment via Google Pay to a local vendor for a paratha and a water bottle, near Century Mill in Worli.The police first traced the vendor, reportedly identified as Naveen Ekka, to Janata Colony where he was staying along with four or five other workers. As they questioned Ekka, he told the police that the accused had made a UPI payment for a paratha and the water bottle.
It was then when the police found the phone number of the accused and traced him to Thane, where more searches led to a dense mangrove cluster near a labour camp.
As the police team searched the area, they saw someone sleeping on the ground. However, the person stood up and started running as an officer moved closer. He was soon caught and overpowered.
ACCUSED WORKED AT A RESTAURANT
During investigations, the police learnt that the accused used to work as a housekeeper at ‘The Blair All Day’ restaurant near the Hiranandani area of Thane.The Manager of the restaurant revealed that a third-party vendor got him the job at the restaurant. The accused worked at the restaurant from September 2024 to December 2024.
Nelson Salda, Manager of ‘The Blair All Day’ restaurant was quoted by IANS as saying, “We discontinued his contract after December 15. He worked with us only for two months. He used to work in the housekeeping department according to the standard procedure of the restaurant. He told us his name was Bijoy Das. He was decent as an employee.”
HE WAS INVOLVED IN THEFT
According to reports, the accused in Saif Ali Khan’s attack case also worked in the Worli area and had once stolen a diamond ring belonging to a customer.
The case was revealed after the customer had filed a complaint with the police and the CCTV cameras were scanned.
He was fired from his job following the incident.
SAIF ALI KHAN’s ATTACKER A BANGLADESHI NATIONAL
Police said they did not find any Indian document from Shehzad but found evidence that established he is a Bangladeshi national who crossed over illegally.
During questioning, he claimed that he did not know that he was breaking into Saif Ali Khan’s home.
IANS quoted sources as saying that the accused told police that he used the rear staircase and air-conditioning ducts to go inside the building. He also said it was the first time he had entered the building.
Police said they may recreate the scene with the accused.
Addressing a press conference, Dikshit Gedam, DCP, Crime Branch Mumbai, said, “There is primary evidence to anticipate that the accused is a Bangladeshi. He does not have valid Indian documents. Some seizures indicate that he is a Bangladeshi national.”
He said, “The accused came to Mumbai nearly six months ago. After that, he started living in various other areas and came to Mumbai 15 days ago He was using Vijay Das as his current name.”
“He used to work in a housekeeping agency. After entering India illegally he changed his name,” the DCP said.
