Saif stabbing case: Chargesheet to be submitted by March-end
What's the story
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan's stabbing case has received a new update.
According to a new report, the Bandra Police are gearing up to file a charge sheet in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court by the end of March.
The incident took place in January during a robbery attempt at his Bandra residence.
As per law, such a document has to be filed within 60 days of an incident.
Case progress
Attacker in custody, evidence supports conviction
The alleged attacker, Shariful Islam (30), a Bangladeshi national, was arrested on January 19 after he fled the scene. He is currently lodged in Arthur Road Jail.
A police officer told the Free Press Journal that they have "many positive reports and ample evidence."
The forensic report confirmed that five fingerprints lifted from a duct in Khan's building matched with Islam's.
Investigation details
Police confident in Islam's guilt, collected 25+ statements
Confident of the case against Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 9), Dikshit Gedam, said, "We have received all the relevant reports, and we are confident that Shariful committed the crime."
The charge sheet contains over 25 statements of eyewitnesses, including Khan's staff members Eliyamma Philip and Junu. Statements of Khan and his actor-wife Kareena Kapoor Khan have also been recorded.
Further evidence
Crime scene was recreated to get a better idea
Statements of Islam's acquaintance and employer, Jitendra Pandey, his maternal uncle, and a woman named Khukumoni Jahangir Sheikh from West Bengal—whose mobile phone Islam stole—have also been recorded.
A crime scene recreation showed that Islam entered a neighboring building, scaled a shared wall, climbed into a duct running along the side of Satguru Sharan (Khan's residence), and made his way up to the fourth floor.
Motive
Islam wasn't aware that the house belonged to Khan
Khan was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after the attack, where he underwent several surgeries. He is reportedly now in good health and recovering from his injuries.
Per police investigation, Islam's primary motive was theft; he was unaware that the house belonged to Khan.