Saif Ali Khan attack trial begins as nurse tells court intruder demanded INR10m

First witness identifies the accused and recounts how the intruder attacked her and the actor at his Bandra home

The trial in the knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan began in Mumbai, with the first witness telling the court that the intruder had demanded INR10 million during a break-in at the actor’s Bandra residence in January 2025.

The nurse, who cared for Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s younger son, Jeh, identified the accused, 31-year-old Mohammad Shariful Islam, during her testimony on Friday, according to Gulf News.

The nurse, who is the complainant in the case, has worked with the family for more than five years and was the first witness called to testify, the report said.

According to the The Indian Express, the nurse told the court a noise had woken her at around 2am on January 16, 2025. She initially noticed that the bathroom light was on and assumed Kareena was inside.

After waking again, she saw a man wearing a cap moving towards Jeh’s bed. The child was four years old at the time.

The nurse said she rushed towards the bed and attempted to pick up the child when the intruder attacked her with a hacksaw blade and told her to remain silent. When she asked what he wanted, the man allegedly demanded INR10 million.

The commotion alerted another nanny, who raised the alarm. Khan and Kapoor Khan then emerged from their rooms, and the actor confronted the intruder, asking who he was and what he wanted.

According to the witness, the man subsequently attacked Khan and another member of the household staff. Khan managed to overpower the intruder, while others took refuge in a room and locked themselves inside.

The accused had fled by the time additional staff members arrived, according to Gulf News. The nurse sustained cuts to two fingers during the incident.

Khan was taken to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital following the attack, where he underwent emergency surgery for multiple injuries. Doctors reported six wounds, including two deep injuries to his left hand and neck. A fragment of a knife was lodged near his spine, and surgeons removed a piece of the blade measuring approximately 2.5 inches.

The actor was discharged from hospital several days later.

Mumbai Police arrested the accused near Hiranandani Estate in Thane on January 19, 2025, three days after the incident. Police said he had used several aliases, including Vijay Das and Bijoy Das, according to Gulf News.

Described in the report as a Bangladeshi national, the accused remains in judicial custody. He faces charges under India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including robbery with a deadly weapon, causing grievous hurt and house trespass. He has also been charged under the Foreigners Act and the Passport (Entry into India) Rules.

The trial followed two unsuccessful attempts by the accused to plead guilty. According to Gulf News, his lawyer, Vipul Dushing, submitted an application in late August stating that his client was willing to plead guilty and seeking leniency. The court rejected the request on September 11 and ordered the trial to proceed.

The accused again indicated on October 8 that he intended to plead guilty to all charges. Hindustan Times reported that the court rejected this second attempt as well, paving the way for witness testimony to begin.

Khan has previously spoken about the ordeal in an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, recalling that he feared he might die as he lay injured on the floor.

The actor also said he had considered forgiving the intruder, although he struggled to move past the possibility that the man had tried to kill him. 

As proceedings continue, the defence is expected to cross-examine the nurse. Other members of the household staff are also expected to testify, while Khan himself could be called as a witness.

The report did not specify a date for the next hearing.