Saif attacker could be Bangladeshi: Mumbai cops claim

The man arrested for allegedly breaking into Indian actor Saif Ali Khan's Mumbai home and stabbing him six times could be a Bangladeshi national who entered India illegally and had been living in Mumbai for the past few months, Mumbai Police claimed. 

Speaking to the media on Sunday morning, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dixit Gedam said they have arrested an accused in connection with the burglary attempt at the actor's Bandra home late on Wednesday night, NDTV reports. 

The accused, he said, had been identified as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad. 

"The investigation has revealed that this accused could be from Bangladesh. He does not have any Indian documents. We suspect he is from Bangladesh, we are investigating and have added Passport Act charges to the case against him," the senior officer said, adding that the accused entered the actor's home to commit robbery.

"We have recovered some items from him that suggest he is from Bangladesh. He came to India illegally and changed his name to Bijoy Das. He has been living in Mumbai for about four months and was working at a housekeeping agency," the senior officer said. 

Gedam added that the accused had been arrested from Thane and is now being questioned.

The intruder had managed to break into the actor's home through the fire exit at the back. His maid spotted him and screamed. When Mr Khan confronted him, the attacker stabbed him six times and fled. The actor was rushed to the nearby Lilavati Hospital. Doctors have said he is recovering well.

"The robber asked for money and when he was opposed, he attacked the maid Junu and Saif Ali Khan and injured them. Police have taken the accused into custody on the basis of technical evidence. The accused's name is Shariful Islam Shehzad and he is a Bangladeshi national," a police statement said, adding that the accused has also been charged under sections relating to illegally entering India.