Mumbai Police crack Saif Ali Khan attack case: How was accused Vijay Das caught?

New Delhi: The shocking attack on Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra apartment on January 16 sent waves of concern throughout the country. However, Mumbai Police have made significant strides in solving the case, apprehending the attacker, identified as Vijay Das (also known by various aliases including Mohammad Aliyan).

The lengthy investigation lasted over 72 hours, involving more than 100 officers and reaching across 15 cities to track down the suspect. Scroll down to read more as we delve into the details of this high-profile case!

Who stabbed Saif Ali Khan?

Vijay Das, who is accused of stabbing Saif Ali Khan six times in a violent assault, was initially able to elude capture, but the diligent efforts of Mumbai Police soon led to his identification. The suspect’s movements were captured by CCTV cameras at Saif’s residence in the Satguru Sharan building in Bandra. This footage proved invaluable in piecing together the sequence of events that unfolded that fateful night.

After the attack, Vijay Das fled the scene and went on the run, travelling from Bandra to Dadar, where he purchased a pair of headphones, and then to Thane. He hid out in a makeshift labourer settlement near Hiranandani in the Mangrove area, pretending to be a Bengali construction worker. Despite his efforts to lay low, the police launched a coordinated manhunt, scouring cities such as Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Vasai, and even cities outside Maharashtra, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh.

The search operation was carried out under the supervision of top Mumbai Police officials, including Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and Special CP Deven Bharti. A total of 35 police teams, along with Railway Police from Bandra and Dadar stations, worked around the clock to locate the suspect. After questioning six individuals who resembled the attacker, the police finally zeroed in on Vijay Das.

Saif Ali Khan attack news

Interestingly, despite claiming to be from Bengal, Vijay Das had no valid identification documents, leading authorities to suspect he could possibly be from Bangladesh. This revelation has prompted further investigations into his true identity.

Following his arrest, it was confirmed that Saif, who had been rushed to the hospital with multiple stab wounds, is stable and recovering after undergoing two surgeries. Meanwhile, the actor’s wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, has been deeply shaken by the incident but is reportedly seeking refuge with her family. Mumbai Police are set to hold a press conference later today at 9:30 AM, where they are expected to provide more details on the case.