The Mumbai police are awaiting a crucial fingerprint report from the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the Saif Ali Khan stabbing case. Media reports have claimed a mismatch between the fingerprints found at Khan’s Bandra residence and those of the main accused, Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national.
Fingerprint Report Still Pending
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 9), Dikshit Gedam, confirmed that the CID’s fingerprint bureau has yet to submit its findings. “We’ll wait for the report before commenting further,” Gedam said. Meanwhile, another senior officer noted that claims of a mismatch were premature, as evidence is still being processed.
Reports from Mid-Day and NDTV suggested that initial system-generated findings indicated a mismatch, prompting the police to submit additional fingerprint samples for further analysis.
Incident Details
The stabbing incident occurred in the early hours of January 16 at Khan’s Bandra residence. According to the FIR, the intruder, later identified as Shariful Islam, entered the house with the intent to steal but was confronted by domestic staff member Elyimma Philips. When she raised an alarm, the intruder attacked her, slashing her hand.
Saif Ali Khan, awakened by the commotion, intervened to protect Philips. A violent scuffle ensued, during which the intruder stabbed Khan six times, causing severe injuries, including wounds to his thoracic spine, neck, and hand.
Evidence Collected
Fingerprint experts collected around 200 samples from Khan’s 11th-floor apartment in the Satguru Sharan building, as well as from the staircase, railing, and basement passage area. Police have confirmed finding fingerprints on the bathroom door, toilet door handle, and the door to Jeh’s room.
Medical Intervention
Dr. Nitin Dange, the neurosurgeon who operated on Khan, stated that surgery was performed to remove an embedded knife fragment and repair spinal fluid leakage. Additional wounds on Khan’s hand and neck required treatment by plastic surgeons. The actor underwent a five-hour operation at Lilavati Hospital.
Ongoing Investigation
The accused, arrested on January 19, is in police custody until January 29. Mumbai police are continuing their investigation while awaiting the fingerprint report, which could provide critical evidence in the case.
What’s Next?
The CID is expected to submit its final report shortly. If a mismatch in fingerprints is confirmed, the case could take a new turn, necessitating further investigation to identify the actual perpetrator or clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
