The trial in the knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan began in Mumbai, with a nurse who worked for the actor’s family describing the alleged break-in and identifying the accused during her testimony.
According to reports by Gulf News and The Indian Express, the nurse, who cared for Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s younger son, Jeh, testified on Friday. She identified the 31-year-old accused, Mohammad Shariful Islam, in court.
The nurse, who is the complainant in the case, has reportedly worked with the family for more than five years and was the first witness called to testify.
Nurse Recounts the Night of the Attack
According to the nurse’s testimony, she was awakened by a noise at around 2am on January 16, 2025. She initially noticed that the bathroom light was on and assumed Kareena Kapoor Khan was inside.
After waking again, she saw a man wearing a cap moving towards Jeh’s bed. The child was four years old at the time.
The nurse told the court that she rushed towards the bed and attempted to pick up the child when the intruder attacked her with a hacksaw blade and ordered her to remain silent.
When she asked what he wanted, the man allegedly demanded INR 10 million, equivalent to INR 1 crore.
The commotion alerted another nanny, who raised the alarm. Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan then emerged from their rooms, and the actor confronted the intruder, asking who he was and what he wanted.
According to the witness, the intruder subsequently attacked Khan and another member of the household staff.
Saif Ali Khan Hospitalised After Knife Attack
The nurse told the court that Khan managed to overpower the intruder while other members of the household took refuge in a room and locked themselves inside.
By the time additional staff members arrived, the accused had reportedly fled. The nurse sustained cuts to two fingers during the incident.
Khan was taken to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for multiple injuries.
Doctors reportedly identified six wounds, including two deep injuries to his left hand and neck. A fragment of a knife was lodged near his spine, and surgeons removed a piece of the blade measuring approximately 2.5 inches.
The actor was discharged from hospital several days later.
Khan subsequently spoke about the incident in an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, recalling that he feared he might die while lying injured on the floor.
He also discussed the possibility of forgiving the intruder, although he said he struggled with the thought that the man might have intended to kill him.
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Accused Arrested Three Days After Incident
Mumbai Police arrested the accused near Hiranandani Estate in Thane on January 19, 2025, three days after the attack.
According to Gulf News, police said the accused had used several aliases, including Vijay Das and Bijoy Das.
The accused has been described in reports as a Bangladeshi national and remains in judicial custody. He faces charges under India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including robbery with a deadly weapon, causing grievous hurt and house trespass. Additional charges have reportedly been filed under the Foreigners Act and the Passport (Entry into India) Rules.
The allegations are being examined through the judicial process, and the accused’s guilt has not been established by a court.
Court Rejects Attempts to Plead Guilty
The trial followed two unsuccessful attempts by the accused to plead guilty to the charges.
According to Gulf News, defence lawyer Vipul Dushing submitted an application in late August stating that his client was willing to plead guilty and requesting leniency.
The court rejected the application on September 11 and directed that the trial proceed.
The accused again indicated on October 8 that he intended to plead guilty to all charges. Hindustan Times reported that the court rejected this second attempt as well, clearing the way for witness testimony to begin.
The reasons for the court’s decisions were not detailed in the supplied reports.
More Witnesses Expected to Testify
The nurse’s testimony marks an important stage in the proceedings, with the defence expected to cross-examine her as the trial continues.
Other members of the actor’s household staff may also be called to testify. Khan himself could potentially appear as a witness, although the supplied report did not confirm whether he had been formally summoned.
No date for the next hearing was specified.
The case has attracted considerable public attention because of the severity of the attack and the involvement of one of Bollywood’s prominent actors. The trial will examine the witness accounts and other evidence before the court as it determines the allegations against the accused.
