Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was attacked by a knife-wielding intruder at his Bandra home around 2:30 am on Thursday. The actor was immediately taken to Lilavati Hospital for surgery. Now, the crime branch has criticized the Bandra police for allegedly responding late, which resulted in the suspect escaping capture.
A senior officer quoted by Hindustan Times said that if the Bandra police had taken prompt action by informing nearby stations, patrol vans and beat marshals, the suspect could have been caught in the early hours when the roads were clear.
Several hours after the attack, around 4 am, police teams reached Lilavati Hospital, where Saif Ali Khan was undergoing treatment, while others visited the crime scene at the Satguru Sharan Building in Bandra West. However, important information like FIR and CCTV footage were not immediately handed over to the crime branch.
A retired officer highlighted that in the past, immediate alerts were sent to all police units, including railway stations and entry-exit points, for high-profile cases.
Former IPS officer PK Jain has reportedly linked the rise in street crimes to changing crime patterns, increasing migration and the anonymity provided to outsiders who commit crimes. He suggested that the increased focus on cyber crime and VIP security has diverted attention from tackling street-level crimes.
Retired ACP Sunil Deshmukh echoed these concerns, pointing out that less police presence on the streets has allowed criminals to act with greater impunity. He stressed the importance of improving grassroots patrolling, which had helped significantly in reducing such crimes in the past.
Meanwhile, Saif is currently stable and under the care of doctors at Lilavati Hospital, who are closely monitoring his condition. Family members and close friends including Sharmila Tagore, Sara Ali Khan, Soha Ali Khan and Ibrahim were seen visiting the actor to check on his health.
In the wake of the tragic attack, the Bollywood community has come together to condemn the incident and called for strict security measures in the area.
Also read: Saif Ali Khan attack: Detained carpenter’s wife reveals about actor’s stabbing incident; ‘Their manager had called for furniture work…’
