Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, who sustained injuries during a violent break-in at his Bandra residence, has been shifted from the ICU to a normal room at Lilavati Hospital.
Dr Nitin Dange, chief neurosurgeon at the hospital, confirmed on Friday that Khan’s condition has improved significantly.
He said: “Saif Ali Khan is better now. We made him walk, and he walked well. Looking at his parameters, his wounds and all the other injuries, he is safe to be shifted out of the ICU. He has to take several precautions. He has to take rest and his movement has been restricted for a week.”
Meanwhile, Mumbai police detained the suspected intruder, following a massive manhunt involving 20 teams.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, left Khan and his staff injured after the assailant, armed with a blade and wooden stick, broke into the actor’s home intending to commit burglary.
Mumbai police said they have taken possession of the portion extracted from Khan’s back while a part of the blade is still to be recovered.
Mumbai police had formed 20 teams to apprehend the intruder.
Officials revealed that the police are leveraging their network of informants and scrutinizing CCTV footage from the building, which shows the assailant fleeing after the attack.
Security lapses
Mumbai police said Khan’s residence lacked surveillance cameras, leaving investigators reliant on footage from the building’s common areas.
The suspect’s image was captured on CCTV as he fled via a fire escape.
Authorities suspect he entered through a duct, as there were no signs of forced entry.
Philip, a house help employed by the family, recounted the terrifying ordeal. She awoke to find the attacker approaching the bed of Khan’s youngest son, Jeh.
Attempting to intervene, she was injured in the scuffle. The intruder demanded Rs1 crore, threatening violence.
Hearing her screams, Khan and his wife Kareena Kapoor rushed out, leading to a violent confrontation.
CCTV footage captured the suspect wearing a red scarf, t-shirt and jeans; he was carrying a backpack.
Police described him as a slim man in his late 30s with a dark complexion. His movements were recorded as he fled down the building’s stairwell, even looking directly at the camera at one point.
What happened?
The incident occurred at around 2:30am in Khan’s 11th-floor flat in the upscale Satguru Sharan building.
According to police, the attacker confronted a maid inside the residence before a violent altercation broke out.
Khan, attempting to de-escalate the situation, was stabbed multiple times.
The assailant fled the scene armed with a wooden stick and a long blade, which he had used during the attack.
Surgery
The actor was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Doctors said the attack caused a severe injury to Khan’s thoracic spinal cord, necessitating a procedure to remove a 2.5-inch knife lodged in his spine and to repair a leak in his spinal fluid.
Although Saif is now out of danger, he remains under intensive care and close observation.
‘Incredibly challenging,’ says wife Kareena Kapoor
Hours after the attack, Khan’s wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan described the incident as “incredibly challenging,” requesting privacy for her family.
“We are still processing the events that have unfolded. The constant scrutiny is overwhelming and poses a significant risk to our safety. We kindly request the media and paparazzi to give us the space to heal,” her statement read.
Opposition attacks Indian government over law and order
The attack has sparked a political outcry, with opposition leaders criticizing the state government over deteriorating law and order.
NCP leader Sharad Pawar said: “If celebrities are unsafe, what about common citizens?”
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also extended his wishes for Khan’s recovery while calling for stronger measures to ensure public safety.
