Mumbai: The Bangladeshi national arrested for attacking Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan gained access to the actor’s apartment in Mumbai by scaling the compound wall, only to find the building's security guards fast asleep at the time. Police revealed this startling detail as they continued to investigate the January 16 attack.

The accused, Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir (30), entered the Satguru Sharan building in Bandra, where Khan resides, by scaling the compound wall. According to police, both security guards were asleep when the attacker gained entry, allowing him to move freely through the building without raising any alarms.

"As he found both the security guards in deep slumber, the accused entered the building from the main entrance where no CCTV camera has been installed," said a police official. "The accused removed his shoes and kept them in his bag to avoid making any noise and also switched off his phone," he added.

Security lapses at actor’s residence

During the investigation, police discovered serious security lapses at the building. The corridor where the attacker walked was not equipped with any CCTV cameras, and one of the two security guards was found sleeping in his cabin while the other was near the gate.

"The investigation revealed that one of the two security guards was sleeping in the cabin and the other near the gate," the police official confirmed. This lack of vigilance allowed the attacker to approach Khan’s apartment undetected, where he subsequently stabbed the actor multiple times.

Attack, arrest

Saif Ali Khan, 54, was stabbed repeatedly by Fakir in the early hours of January 16. The actor was rushed to Lilavati Hospital for emergency surgery after suffering multiple injuries. The attacker, later identified as Fakir, was arrested three days later from Thane city.

Police have recreated the crime scene with the accused to better understand the sequence of events. "During the probe, the police found that there are no CCTV cameras installed in the building's corridor," said the police official.

Background of accused

Fakir, a native of Jhalokathi district in Bangladesh, had been living in Mumbai for over five months. He was working odd jobs and had connections with a local housekeeping agency. Police have revealed that the accused had planned his attack carefully, even taking steps to ensure his actions went unnoticed.

The accused has been remanded in police custody for five days, with investigations continuing under Police Inspector (Crime) Ajay Lingnurkar. Fakir is currently being held at the Bandra or Santacruz police stations, with only the investigation officer allowed to meet him.

This attack has raised concerns about the security measures at high-profile residences, with calls for increased vigilance and better safety systems in place to protect celebrities.

Agency