Saif Ali Khan's attacker seeks guilty plea and leniency in Mumbai court

Mohammad Shariful Islam, the Bangladeshi national arrested for the January stabbing of actor Saif Ali Khan, has filed an application in a Mumbai court seeking to plead guilty and requesting leniency.

Islam's lawyer Vipul Dushing confirmed the Friday application, submitted more than seven months after the attack that left the 54-year-old actor hospitalized. The accused, who has been in judicial custody since his arrest two days after the incident, approached the court after charges were formally framed against him earlier this month.

Court schedules hearing next month

The court directed the prosecution to file its reply and posted the matter for hearing on September 11.

Additional sessions judge G. P. Deshmukh had framed charges against Islam under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for robbery accompanied by use of a deadly weapon, causing grievous hurt, and house trespass. He also faces charges under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act and Passport (Entry into India) Rules.

Attack details and recovery

Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th-floor apartment in upscale Bandra during the early hours of January 16, 2025. The actor underwent emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital and was discharged after five days of treatment.

The guilty plea application marks a significant turn in the high-profile case that had sparked concerns about security in Mumbai's affluent residential areas. If the court accepts the plea, it could expedite the conclusion of proceedings that have stretched beyond seven months.

Source: The Hindu