Police in the Indian city of Mumbai have arrested a man in connection with the knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, according to media reports.
Khan was stabbed following a fight with an unidentified individual at his home on Thursday morning.
The actor is recovering after surgery. Police have collected CCTV footage from the actor’s home in the upmarket Bandra neighbourhood, and preliminary indications suggest that the incident was meant as a theft. It is unclear if the detained individual was the intruder.
The BBC obtained a statement from a nurse who works in Khan’s house to the police, which reveals some specifics about what happened on the night of the incident.
Eliyama Philip, Khan’s son’s carer, stated that she first observed a man’s shadow near the bathroom door late at night while in the child’s room with the nanny.
Ms. Philip reported that a man approached with a wooden instrument in one hand and a long blade in the other, warning the two not to make any noise. He demanded ten million rupees ($115,477; £94,511), she said.
A scuffle ensued, and Ms. Philip was hurt. Meanwhile, the nanny left the room.
According to the nurse’s statement, Khan and his wife, actress Kareena Kapoor, went to the room upon hearing the ruckus.
She claimed that when Khan approached the intruder, he hit him with a blade and fled the residence.
Khan had many injuries during the incident, including one to the back of his neck.
Dr. Nitin Dange of Lilavati Hospital, where Khan is being treated, stated that when the actor came, he was bleeding from the spine and had a knife piece lodged.
The portion was surgically removed, and the fluid flow was contained. Doctors stated that prompt treatment prevented major spinal injury.
Dr. Dange said on Friday that Khan is “better now.”
“We made him walk, and he walked well. Looking at his parameters, his wounds, and all the other injuries, he is safe to be shifted out of the ICU. He has to take several precautions. He has to take rest, and his movement has been restricted for a week,” he said.
Dixit Gadam, Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai Police, stated that the weapon used in the attack has not been found and that a case has been filed based on the nurse’s account.
“The accused used the fire escape ladder to enter,” he said. “The investigation is going on to determine how the house’s door was opened or how the intruder gained access.”
Khan, 54, is a producer who has starred in a number of films and television shows throughout the years. He is noted for his quick wit and comedic timing.
His performance of the antagonist in the highly acclaimed 2006 film Omkara drew much appreciation.
He has received numerous honours, including India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, in 2010.
Khan is the son of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the former Indian cricket captain, and Sharmila Tagore, an actor.
