Saif Ali Khan’s attacker seen on CCTV in building stairwell

Mumbai:

Mumbai police have released the first image and NDTV has accessed footage of the man suspected of entering Saif Ali Khan’s house in Bandra and stabbing him six times, causing injuries to the actor’s hand, neck and spine.

The man was caught on CCTV at 2.33am on Thursday in the stairwell of the actor’s building. In the photo released by police, the man can be seen dressed in a t-shirt and jeans with a backpack and what appears to be an orange scarf. The video shows him walking down the stairs and also looking directly at the camera at one point.

Saif Ali Khan, his wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan and their sons live in an apartment – spread over four floors – in a 12-storey building in Bandra West. Police sources had earlier told NDTV that the attacker – believed to have planned to rob the Khans’ apartment – entered the building next to the building where the actors are staying and then scaled a wall.

After gaining access to the Khans’ building, he used the stairs at the back to climb up to the floors housing their apartment and used a fire escape to enter it.

One of the maids in Mr. Khan’s home, Eliyama Phillipes alias Lima, was reportedly the first to spot the man. She screamed and alerted the actor, who confronted the intruder and tried to fight him off. The man stabbed Khan six times, causing injuries to his left hand and neck and leaving a knife lodged in his spine.

The actor was rushed to Lilavati Hospital by his son, Ibrahim, and doctors said he is stable and out of danger.

“Saif Ali Khan was admitted to the hospital around 2 am with alleged history of assault by an unknown person. He sustained severe injuries to the thoracic spinal cord due to a knife stuck in the spine. An emergency operation was performed to remove the knife and repair leaking spinal fluid Two other deep wounds on his left hand and another on his neck were repaired by the plastic surgery team Nitin Dange of Lilavati Hospital said.

“I am happy to confirm that Mr. Saif Ali Khan is completely stable now. He is recovering well and out of danger,” he added.