Akash Kailash Kanojia, a 31-year-old driver, found his life turned upside down when Mumbai police mistakenly identified him as the attacker involved in an attempted burglary at Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan’s Bandra apartment on January 16.
The confusion began when the Mumbai police issued a tip-off to the Railway Protection Force (RPF), leading to Akash Kanojia’s detention while en route to Bilaspur.
On January 17, Akash Kanojia travelled on the Jnaneswar Express to meet his prospective bride but was detained by the RPF at Durg station in Chhattisgarh. The police had alerted the RPF, indicating that Kanojia was involved in the attack on Saif Ali Khan.
After the Mumbai police circulated his photograph, the media widely identified him as the main suspect, further damaging his reputation.
Despite explaining his innocence and suggesting the authorities check CCTV footage near his house, Akash Kanojia was detained. He was only released on January 19, after the Mumbai police arrested the actual attacker, Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national.
The wrongful identification took a serious toll on Akash Kanojia’s life. His employer terminated his contract, and his marriage proposal was called off because the bride's family was influenced by the media coverage.
Akash Kanojia said, "The RPF personnel not only apprehended me, but they also issued a press release with my photograph, which was shown widely by television channels and media outlets. As a result, the bride’s family cancelled the meeting with me, and my employer terminated my services."
Akash Kanojia, who was already facing personal challenges, explained the incident to be particularly damaging. He added that the police had overlooked a crucial detail: he had a moustache, while the person seen in CCTV footage from Saif Ali Khan's apartment did not. This key discrepancy, he claimed, was ignored by the authorities during their investigation.
Following his release, Akash Kanojia requested that all images of him falsely linking him to the crime be removed from the internet to prevent further damage to his reputation. He also voiced his frustration about the police investigation's lack of due diligence.
Akash Kanojia is now fighting to clear his name legally and restore his life, which he says was “ruined” by this case of mistaken identity. He expressed his resolve to take any necessary legal steps, including standing outside Saif Ali Khan’s society to seek employment, as he has lost both his job and the possibility of marriage due to this mistake.
Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor stepped out together for the first time since the actor was attacked.
The couple was accompanied by heavy security after Saif was discharged from Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital following surgeries for the multiple injuries he sustained in the violent knife attack.
The couple's appearance on January 26 showed Saif and Kareena walking out of their home, visibly surrounded by a large security presence. Videos taken by paparazzi captured them entering a car as they left their residence. Saif appeared to be recovering well, though a bandage was visible around his neck where he had been injured.
1737618478-0/Express-Tribune---News-Desk-(9)1737618478-0-270x192.webp "icc champions trophy 2025 ticket prices announced")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ