NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing investigation into the stabbing case against Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, a new angle has emerged as the accused’s lawyer questioned the allegations regarding his Bangladeshi origin. The lawyer, Sandeep Shekhane, said the police had no evidence to prove that Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzadthe accused, is a Bangladeshi national.
Soon after Shehzad’s arrest on Sunday morning from Hiranandani Estate in Thane, police said he had entered India six months ago from Bangladesh. However, Shekhane refuted the allegations, saying his client has been living in Mumbai for over seven years with his family.
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“Five-day police custody was granted and the court ordered them to file a report within that time. The police have no proof that he is Bangladeshi. The claim that he came here six months ago is false. This is a blatant violation of Section 43A as no proper investigation was conducted,” Shekhane said.
He also denounced procedural flaws in this case and questioned the reasons for which police custody had been granted.
Sherkhane said: “There are gaps. The notice was not complied with as directed by the Supreme Court. Police custody has been granted, but there is no mention of threat of death or murder in the remand copy or in the FIR copy. Despite this, sections are involved. There was no intention of murder.
Another lawyer for the accused, Dinesh Prajapati, also refuted the allegations, saying his client lived in Mumbai with his family.
“The police requested custody, but the reasons given were insufficient,” Prajapati said. “In his defence, we argued that nothing was found on him and the police did not produce any documents to prove that he is a Bangladeshi national. Despite this, the court granted five days of police custody.
Shehzad, 30, is accused of attacking Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra residence in the wee hours of Thursday. The intruder allegedly broke into Khan’s upscale home and stabbed him multiple times with a knife.
The actor suffered injuries to his neck and near his spine and is currently being treated at Lilavati Hospitalwhere he is in a stable condition.
Police are now investigating whether the attack was premeditated and whether Shehzad had accomplices. Authorities said further questioning would uncover additional details about the motive for the attack.
