Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 18: Nearly 48 hours after the burglary attempt that saw actor Saif Ali Khan and his domestic staff attacked, the intruder remains untraced. The Bandra police and Mumbai Crime Branch teams, who are investigating the incident, have yet to reveal any significant details about the progress of their probe. Maharashtra’s minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, has ruled out the involvement of organized gangs in the attack.

Khan, who sustained stab wounds to his spine, neck, and hands during the confrontation, is reported to be recovering well after surgery. Doctors confirmed that he is walking around, eating regular meals, and has been moved from the ICU to a special room at the hospital. Depending on his recovery, he could be discharged by Monday.

A suspect matching the description from CCTV footage of the intruder was apprehended in South Mumbai, but during interrogation, it was discovered that he was a drug abuser and not involved in the crime. He was released by Friday afternoon.

At least 20 police teams have been formed to track down the assailant, and multiple individuals, including two carpenters who had recently worked at Khan's home, have been questioned. Khan's wife, Kareena Kapoor, gave her statement to the police on Friday. Authorities are also analysing mobile data to trace any new numbers in the area at the time of the attack.

The police case is based on a statement from the domestic help, Eliyamma Phillip, who was the first to spot the intruder near the room where Khan’s son was sleeping. After ensuring the child’s safety, she confronted the intruder, alerting the others. Despite being stabbed, Khan managed to move his family and staff into the corridor and tried to trap the intruder inside the room. However, in the chaos, he was unable to lock the door from the outside, allowing the assailant to escape.

Police are still unclear about the intruder’s route of escape. It is believed he used the fire escape stairwell to reach Khan's 11th-floor residence and exited the building the same way. CCTV footage shows the intruder’s masked face on the stairs, but there are no cameras in the building's corridors or inside Khan's flat.

A case of armed robbery has been filed, and authorities are working to determine how the intruder gained access to the flat. The investigation is ongoing.