A man managed to break into Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor’s luxury apartment in Bandra, sneak into their youngest son’s room, and injure Saif during a confrontation. One person has been arrested in connection with the knife attack, which occurred in the wee hours of January 16. It has been six days since the incident, but there are still key questions that remain unanswered and point out inconsistencies in the sequence of events and the probe so far.
How did the attacker enter undetected through the main entrance of such a high-profile, high-rise residence in Bandra? Was there no security protocol in place to monitor the entrance? Were the guards asleep during that time? Why did the male staff members present inside the house fail to act when Saif was attacked, and what were they doing during this crucial time?
One person has been arrested by the police, but why is his appearance different from the man seen descending the building stairs on the day of the incident? Is it lighting or does it hint at potential misidentification or deliberate manipulation? How did the accused manage to hide in the garden of Saif Ali Khan’s building for two hours after the stabbing without being detected? Was no one searching the premises during this time after the alarm was sounded?
To get some clarification on the probe, India Today TV spoke to Yashovardhan Azad, former IPS officer and former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and PK Jain, former additional DGP (Special Ops), Maharashtra Police. The two former officials analysed the case and probe and pointed out inconsistencies and the direction the probe should go in.
“Let me tell you that there are definitely inconsistencies… In Mumbai, where we have had criminals, with well-oiled bodies, who could go up into high buildings, in such buildings, to keep a window without a grill is something shocking,” Yashovardhan Azad said.
“Number two, the lack of a sufficient number of CCTVs is also shocking. In fact, in an ordinary building in Noida, it’s much more secure and equipped with CCTV than we see in Mumbai. The third thing, most of the security guards in Mumbai work during the daytime, and they merely come to work, to sleep at the place. Plus, they were hired from housekeeping agencies, not from a security guard agency,” Azad said.
He then spoke about what the police investigation has uncovered so far, including the fingerprints recorded at the site.
“Now, you can’t deny that the fingerprints were found over there. The sanctity of the fingerprints or the DNA of the hair taken from the cap, then the identification by the house staff, plus the recovery of the third part of the knife, this would clearly establish whether this guy is the original one or not,” Azad said.
He then spoke about reports that the suspect was hanging near a park after the failed burglary bid.
Azad then posed some crucial questions over this, asking “So did anyone ring the flying squad? Did anyone call for the 100? What was the response in that particular time?”
Meanwhile, PK Jain questioned the sequence of events leading up to the attack and after.
“I have been maintaining right from the beginning that there are certain gaps in the entire story. The FIR that was lost, there were certain gaps in that also. The things seemed very hunky-dory in the sense that it was only the maid and Saif Ali Khan who were handling the alleged culprit, but nobody else came to their rescue. And then subsequently, he’s being locked in a room, he slips away from that room. I mean, there are many things which do not add up,” PK Jain said.
He also pointed out that fingerprints could play a crucial role in confirming the suspect.
PK Jain, however, questioned why the thief was still lurking around the place after stabbing Saif and fleeing from the spot. “There are many other things which, which to my mind don’t add up,” PK Jain said.
He, however, added, “But see, the investigating officer is the best person to comment and what evidence he has in his possession. And the change of guard at this stage, unless there’s a major reason, the investigating officer is generally not changed.”
He said the change of investigating officer in the middle of the probe “is not normal at all”. “I would say the police has done a wonderful job if the accused is correct. The police has done a wonderful job in connecting the dots and arresting him from Thane,” PK Jain said.
But, he pointed out “certain gaps in the entire story”.
Azad, on the other hand, said that the investigation was probably “given to the best guy, because there are a lot of things to be done”.
He then said that he could point out “many other glaring things”. “Why did Kareena not go with him in the three wheeler? Why did Taimur go?” he asked.
He then said it’s “shocking” that the four male staff hid and did not come forward to fight the intruder. Azad added, “But if you see on the roads, a guy bullying and butchering his lover on the street and there are people standing around taking photographs, but no one even interfering. This is India for you.”
Apart from the gaps in the probe, another finding that has added a layer of complexity to the probe is the Bangladesh nationality of the arrested suspect. Mohammad Shariful, the suspect arrested in the Saif Ali Khan stabbing case, had entered India illegally from Bangladesh.
When asked about the need for transparency in the probe, PK Jain said, “Actually, the police should not and cannot divulge the details of the investigation. Some bare factual information, yes, they may be able to share with the media, but the line of investigation, what exactly they’ve done, what exactly they’re doing, I don’t think that should come into the public domain.”
“Because if the police start giving theories, it damages the case more than it helps,” he added.
Meanwhile, Azad pointed out that the nationality of the suspect does have security implications.
“But there is one thing in the end that this kind of entry and this kind of crime committed by a Bangladeshi immigrant who has just come about a few months back, does have security implications. And if the police today go through a verification process everywhere in all the states, it will be good for us,” Azad said.