Indian analyst alleges Saif Ali Kan’s attacker was Hindutva extremist

Indian analyst and academic Ashok Swain alleged that the attacker who stabbed Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his home may be a follower of the Hindutva extremist ideology, which seeks to marginalise and eliminate Muslims in India.

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 surgeries and is currently receiving further medical treatment at the hospital.

"Saif has six injuries, two of which are deeper. One of the wounds is dangerously close to his spine," said Dr Niraj Uttamani, COO of Lilavati Hospital.

The Hindustan Times 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.

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

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

“The attacker of Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan was wearing a saffron-coloured scarf. This scarf is commonly associated with members of Hindutva groups,” Ashok Swain wrote on X.

The incident reignited concerns about religious intolerance in India. On social media, many users shared a controversial speech by Indian poet and politician Kumar Vishwas, in which he criticised Saif Ali Khan for naming his children after historical Muslim figures, implicitly targeting the actor’s son, Taimur.

“We invest our money in you, buy tickets to watch your movies, and make you heroes and heroines. Then you have children from your third marriage and name them after foreign invaders,” Kumar Vishwas said, adding, “You could have chosen names like Rizwan, Usman, or Younus, but you picked the name of a man who raped our mothers and sisters in India.”

He further threatened, “If you try to make him (Taimur) a hero, we will not let it happen.”

Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Kapoor family to commemorate the birth centenary of legendary actor Raj Kapoor.

During the meeting, he interacted with Saif Ali Khan and expressed a desire to meet the actor’s children, mentioning that he had previously met Saif's father and wanted to connect with the next generation.

The police are still investigating the attack and have yet to confirm the motive behind the incident. However, the assault has left many in India shaken.

The attack on Saif Ali Khan comes amid ongoing threats to Bollywood celebrities. Actor Salman Khan has faced repeated life threats from the Bishnoi gang, and Muslim politician Baba Siddique, a close associate of Salman, was recently shot dead.

Amid the rise of Islamophobic incidents in India, Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing adds to growing concerns about the safety of public figures, particularly those with Muslim backgrounds, in India.