NEW DELHI: The seriousness of a Bandra court gave way to chaos on Sunday as two lawyers rushed to represent the man accused of stabbing. bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan. The scene took place during the preventive detention process of Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzada 30-year-old Bangladeshi national arrested for the attack. The magistrate, caught in the middle of the unexpected tussle, was forced to mediate and ultimately suggested that competing advocates represent the accused as a team, news agency PTI reported.
Shehzad has been accused of sneaking into Khan’s luxurious residence in Bandra in the early hours of January 16. According to the police, he climbed to the 12th floor of the Satguru Sharan building using a pipe and entered the actor’s apartment through the bathroom window.
Once inside, he was confronted by household staff, leading to a fight during which Khan was allegedly stabbed multiple times. The 54-year-old actor suffered injuries near his neck and spine and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. Khan is said to be in stable condition and recovering well.
The confrontation took place moments before the defendants could sign the legal document (vakalatnama) authorize representation, causing confusion. Another lawyer made his way to the defendant’s stand and obtained Shehzad’s signature on his own. vakalatnamacausing a brief moment of confusion over who would represent the alleged attacker.
The accused was arrested after a chase that lasted three days. Police traced him to a labor camp in Thane using CCTV footage and input from a labor contractor. Authorities allege that Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national who entered India illegally six months ago, had assumed the alias Vijay Das.
While initial investigations suggest robbery was the motive, police have not ruled out the possibility of an international conspiracy. Shehzad was remanded in police custody for five days to allow for further questioning.
Outside court, Sherkhane, the lawyer representing the accused, denied allegations about Shehzad’s Bangladeshi origin, saying: “The police have no evidence to prove that my client is from Bangladesh. He has lived in Mumbai for more than seven years with his family. “The claim he made six months ago is unfounded.”
The lawyers also criticized procedural failures in the investigation. “The remand copy does not mention any intention to murder, but serious charges have been brought against him. No proper investigation has been carried out,” Sherkhane added. Prajapati echoed these concerns, arguing that no substantial recovery had been achieved and that no documentation supported claims about Shehzad’s foreign origin.