Facial recognition technology was central to solving the stabbing case of Saif Ali Khan as it aided Mumbai police in confirming the assailant’s identity. The 30-year-old Bangladeshi national, Mohammad Shariful Islam, was arrested after forensic analysis matched him to the individual seen in CCTV footage at Khan’s Bandra residence on January 16.
According to police, Islam had entered Khan’s apartment on the 12th floor with a motive of robbing him. The 54-year-old actor, confronting him, got stabbed six times and left him. Police arrested Islam in Thane on January 19 after deep investigations linked him to the crime through his facial recognition data and physical evidence from the crime scene.
A Bandra magistrate’s court refused to extend police custody on Islam and sent him to judicial remand. Judicial Magistrate Komal Sing Rajput explained, “At least at this stage, further police custody is not justified,” and advised that if fresh developments occur, the police can request custody within the permissible time frame.
The police had wanted to extend the custody for further investigation, which includes probing Islam’s illegal entry into India and his financial dealings. A team was sent to Kolkata to gather more details about the case. Islam had allegedly assumed the name “Bijoy Das” after crossing the border illegally, and authorities are working to uncover those who aided him.
Khan was discharged after five days of recovery from emergency surgery following the attack. Though the actor has been recovering from the injuries he suffered during the attack, he has not spoken publicly about it yet.