'Complete failure': Indian authorities blame each other as Saif Ali Khan’s attacker remains at large

Despite over 48 hours having passed since the life-threatening attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, Indian law enforcement authorities have yet to make any arrests. Meanwhile, the alleged attacker's pictures are circulating online.

Saif Ali Khan sustained serious injuries after being stabbed multiple times during a burglary attempt at his residence in Mumbai's Bandra area. The suspect managed to flee the crime scene and remains at large.

The incident reportedly occurred at Saif's residence in the early hours of Thursday, around 2:30 am, when an intruder entered Khan’s home. The actor engaged in a scuffle to prevent the burglary, during which he was stabbed.

The Hum Tum star underwent urgeries and is currently receiving further medical treatment at the hospital.

Indian media reported that Khan suffered multiple injuries over his body. However, his back is stable following surgery, and he is able to move his hands and legs. His condition remains stable.

The Mumbai Police criticised the Bandra Police for wasting critical time in reporting the incident to higher authorities. According to officials, the delay may have allowed the attacker to evade capture.

Currently, an intense manhunt is underway, but no significant breakthroughs have been reported.

A rickshaw driver who allegedly transported the injured Saif Ali Khan to the hospital was interviewed by the media but had not been contacted by the police for questioning.

The Mumbai Police also revealed that the Bandra Police failed to alert nearby police stations and the railway crime branch promptly. This oversight likely provided the attacker with additional time and space to escape.

 “It seems like a complete failure of the Bandra police, who did not take the incident seriously and also did not alert the other police stations nearby and the crime branch to nab the culprit as soon as they came to know about the incident,” a senior police official told Hindustan Times.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 am, but the Bandra Police reportedly informed higher authorities around 6 am, nearly four hours later.

“It was nighttime, and there was no crowd on the road. Had Bandra police alerted all other police stations, officials on patrolling vans, and beat marshals, they could have easily nabbed the suspect,” the official added.

Mumbai police now released another picture of an attacker in yellow shirt. 

CCTV footage of the attacker, which surfaced in the media, showed the suspect clearly fleeing through the building’s fire escape staircase.

Notably, the attacker was wearing a saffron scarf, a detail that prompted Ashok Swain and others to speculate about a potential Hindutva connection.