NEW DELHI, Jan 16: A profusely bleeding Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was rushed to Lilavati hospital in an auto-rickshaw by his elder son Ibrahim after the shock knife attack in the early hours of Thursday.
Ibrahim (23), also an actor, helped his injured father into the three-wheeler after he could not find a car ready to leave. Determined not to lose time, Ibrahim and Saif got into the auto-rickshaw and rushed to the hospital, about two kilometres from Mr Khan’s Bandra home.
A video captured moments after the attack shows Mr Khan’s wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan standing next to the auto-rickshaw and speaking to the house staff.
The 54-year-old actor suffered six stab injuries, one near his spine, during a fight with an intruder at his home late last night. He was operated upon and is now out of danger, his team has said. The team’s statement adds that all other family members are safe.
Police have said the probe suggests that the intruder entered Saif Ali Khan’s house to commit robbery. CCTV cameras at Mr Khan’s home did not capture anyone entering the premises within two hours before the attack, meaning that whoever attacked the actor had entered the building earlier and had been waiting to strike. Police are scanning CCTV footage to identify the attacker, who fled after stabbing the actor.
Police suspect that the attacker could be related to one of the house helps, who also gave him entry into the actor’s home, sources have said. This help is now being questioned as Mumbai Police tries to get to the bottom of the shocking attack in one of the poshest areas of Mumbai.
The attack on the actor has sparked panic among other members of the cinema fraternity. Actor Pooja Bhatt has said she has never felt so unsafe and urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for more police presence in Bandra. The Opposition has launched a scathing attack on the NDA government and questioned how safe ordinary Mumbaikars are if celebrities are attacked like this.
Hospital sources said Saif Ali Khan’s spinal fluid leaked out after shards of the attacker’s knife lodged into his spine during the actor’s fight with the intruder. The doctor said they repaired the spinal injury and also performed plastic surgeries on his hand and neck, where he was stabbed. He added that the 54-year-old actor is out of danger and recovering well. The doctor said “The recovery should be 100 per cent as per our understanding.”
The attacker managed to escape but police have said an accused has been identified. “Ten teams have been formed to catch him. Preliminary investigation suggests he entered Saif Ali Khan’s house using the stairs with the intention of committing robbery. Further details will be disclosed once the accused is taken into custody,” a senior police officer said.
