Saif Ali Khan stabbing: Suspect held in Chhattisgarh; Mumbai Police on the way

Saif Ali Khan was stabbed repeatedly while he tried to protect his children during an encounter with an intruder during a burglary bid at his Bandra home in the early hours of Thursday night.

The suspect has been detained at Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh, NDTV reported.

The 54-year-old actor sustained severe injuries, including wounds to his neck and near his spine, during the attack.

The detained individual, identified as 31-year-old Aakash Kailash Kannojia, was apprehended by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) based on leads from Mumbai Police, the report said.

According to the report, RPF officials revealed that Kannojia was intercepted on the Mumbai-Howrah Jnaneswari Express.

He deboarded at Durg station around 2 pm and was immediately taken into custody.

"The Mumbai Police shared the suspect's photo, train details, and location, leading to his detention," RPF officials were quoted as saying by NDTV.

Kannojia, who was travelling without a ticket, initially claimed he was heading to Nagpur, later changing his destination to Bilaspur.

He is currently in RPF custody and has been questioned via video call by Mumbai Police.

A police team is en route to Durg to confirm his identity and is expected to arrive by 8 pm.

Saif Ali Khan, who was stabbed six times during the assault, was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in an autorickshaw, where he underwent a five-hour emergency surgery to remove a 2.5-inch blade fragment from his spine.

Doctors have reported that the actor is recovering well.

CCTV footage from the actor’s building captured the intruder wearing a red scarf and carrying a backpack.

The assailant was seen taking the stairs to Khan’s apartment and fleeing around 2:30 am.

Subsequent footage placed the suspect at Bandra and Dadar railway stations, leading police to suspect he had left Mumbai by train.

The attacker’s motive is believed to be robbery, according to Maharashtra Minister of State for Home (Urban), Yogesh Kadam, who clarified that no underworld gangs were involved, according to the NDTV report.

Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was present during the attack, recorded her statement with the Mumbai Police.

She recounted the horrifying incident, stating, "The attacker was aggressive. I saw him stab Saif repeatedly. Our priority was to get Saif to the hospital."

She added that the intruder fled without stealing any valuables.

Kapoor Khan revealed that after ensuring her husband was hospitalised, she sought refuge at her sister Karisma Kapoor's home, feeling "terrified" after the ordeal.

More than 30 teams have been mobilised to track down and apprehend the attacker.

Earlier reports suggesting the arrest of a suspect turned out to be false, as the individual in question was identified as a carpenter who had worked at Khan's residence two days prior.

Investigations are ongoing to confirm if the detained individual is indeed the perpetrator.