Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, the Bangladeshi national accused of attacking Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan during a robbery attempt at his Bandra residence in January 2025, has filed an application before a Mumbai court, alleging that his arrest was “illegal.” The plea, submitted on May 9, 2025, through his lawyer, Ajay Gawli, contends that the police violated Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which mandates informing an arrested individual of the reasons for their arrest and their right to bail. Shehzad claims that these procedures were not followed during his arrest.
Key Points from the Accused’s Plea:
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Violation of Legal Provisions: Shehzad alleges that the police violated Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which mandates informing an arrested individual of the reasons for their arrest and their right to bail. He claims that these procedures were not followed during his arrest.
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False Implication: The accused maintains that the First Information Report (FIR) filed against him is “false” and that he has been wrongly implicated in the case.
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Completion of Investigation: Shehzad asserts that the investigation is nearly complete, with all necessary recoveries and discoveries made, and only the filing of the chargesheet remains. He contends that his continued detention serves no purpose.
Background of the Case:
On January 16, 2025, Saif Ali Khan was attacked at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai, during a suspected robbery attempt. The assailant, identified as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, allegedly stabbed Khan multiple times. Khan underwent surgery and was hospitalized for several days before being discharged.
Shehzad was arrested on January 19, 2025, and has been in judicial custody since then. The police have indicated that they will file the chargesheet by the end of March 2025.
Court’s Response:
The court has directed the police to submit their response to Shehzad’s plea and has adjourned the matter to May 13, 2025, for further proceedings.