The attacker, who reportedly attempted a burglary at the actor’s residence, confronted the actor’s house-help, Eliyama Phillips, demanding the ransom. When Phillips screamed in response, Khan rushed to intervene, resulting in a violent altercation.
The actor was stabbed six times during the struggle, with one of the knife fragments lodging in his spine. Khan was immediately rushed to Lilavati Hospital by his son Ibrahim, in an auto-rickshaw after delays in getting their car.
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Doctors confirmed that Khan sustained severe injuries to his spinal cord and other deep wounds. His surgery was completed successfully, and he is now said to be in stable condition and recovering under close medical supervision, as per CNBC-TV18 sources.
The police have registered a case under various sections including robbery, trespassing, and grievous hurt. The assailant has yet to be apprehended, but authorities are continuing their investigation, including gathering evidence from CCTV footage and interviewing the household staff.
The attack has raised serious questions about the security at Khan’s residence, located in the Satguru Sharan building, a high-profile, twelve-storey apartment complex. The intruder, who was reportedly hiding in the actor’s son Jeh’s room, was spotted by Phillips before the violent encounter. Despite the intrusion being detected early, the attacker was able to escape undetected, sparking criticism about the building’s security protocols.
Mumbai’s political climate quickly reacted to the attack, with the opposition targeting the state government’s handling of the situation. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also serves as the state’s Home Minister, expressed his concern over the attack but downplayed concerns regarding Mumbai’s safety.
Opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi and Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal, raised alarms about the security of celebrities in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan’s team issued a statement urging fans and media to respect their privacy while the police investigate the matter.
ALSO READ: Saif Ali Khan stabbed six times by intruder at his Mumbai home; attacker was hiding in son’s room