A Mumbai court has granted five-day police custody to Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, the accused in the January 16 stabbing of actor Saif Ali Khan🉐 at his Bandra home. The court noted that the attacker is from Bangladesh, raising suspicions of a possible international conspiracy, though it did not rule out other possibilities, reports said. "The accused is a citizen of Bangladesh. The suspicion of an international conspiracy cannot be ruled out. Therefore, sufficient time must be given to the investigating officer," the court stated in its ruling.
𒈔Shehzad was brought before the Bandra Court after his arrest earlier that day. The police had requested 14-day custody, which was contested by the defense lawyer.
During the hearing, the investigating officer argued that the accused trespassed into Saif Ali Khan🐻’s residence, attacked the actor, and injured two others. "Saif Ali Khan sustained serious injuries, including a knife wound. We need to investigate how the accused entered the actor’s residence and the motives behind the attack. Given that he is a Bangladeshi national, it is crucial to determine how he entered the country. We request 14-day custody," the officer said.
💫The defense lawyer opposed the extended custody, claiming that the accused is not a Bangladeshi but an Indian citizen residing in Mumbai. "This case is being exaggerated simply because it involves Saif Ali Khan. Otherwise, it would be treated as a regular case. The reasons for custody were not clearly explained in the remand application. The accused is a young man with no criminal record, and he is being made a scapegoat," the defense lawyer argued, adding that the accused is unaware of the details of the case.
🦩As per reports, after hearing both sides, the court ruled, "The investigation is in its early stages, and the accused was arrested only today. Therefore, the grounds for seeking remand for further investigation are justified. The defense's claim of illegalities in the arrest appears to be unfounded."
🌠Speaking to the media after the hearing, Shehzad's lawyer, Sandeep Shekhane, criticized the shift in focus due to the accused's nationality. "The case's angle has changed just because he is Bangladeshi. Saif Ali Khan has never made any statements or had any grievances with anyone that would lead to a threat against him from Bangladesh or any other country. The case was being treated as normal until the nationality issue was raised. The accused has been living in Mumbai for many years, not just six months as the police claim. His family is here," Shekhane said.
