"Must catch the real culprit...": Congress Raises Doubts Over Identity of Arrested Suspect in Saif Ali Khan Case

The Mumbai Police's investigation into the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan is facing scrutiny, with Congress questioning the "authenticity" of the arrest. The probe has come under fire after doubts were raised about whether the suspect arrested in connection with the attack is the same individual seen in CCTV footage of the incident.

Congress leader Nana Patole on Friday voiced concerns over the investigation, demanding clarity regarding the identity of the arrested person. He questioned whether the suspect arrested by the police matched the person captured in the CCTV footage. "Instead of raising the Hindu-Muslim angle in law and order situations, the police must catch the real culprit. There are reports about the person caught on CCTV camera and the one arrested not being the same person," Patole stated, referring to Maharashtra Minister Nitish Rane’s earlier remarks on the incident.

Patole also pointed to reports of the police detaining and subsequently releasing several lookalikes in connection with the case. He expressed concern about the safety of citizens, including public figures like Saif. "It is sad that cine artists, sarpanch, and common citizens are not safe," he added, emphasising the need for accountability in the investigation.

The controversy intensified after the father of the arrested suspect, Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, denied that his son was the person seen in the CCTV footage. In an interview with a Bengali news channel, Fakir’s father revealed that his son had crossed into India illegally due to political unrest in Bangladesh. However, he rejected media reports suggesting his son was a wrestler. "The person shown in the CCTV footage does not resemble my son," Fakir’s father said, casting doubt on the police’s identification of the suspect.

Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested last week for allegedly attempting to rob Saif Ali Khan’s residence in Bandra. During the incident, the actor was reportedly attacked by the intruder.

Patole further criticised the safety situation in Mumbai, pointing out that if an actor like Saif Ali Khan could be attacked in Bandra, a generally regarded safe area, it raised serious concerns about the security of both celebrities and ordinary citizens. "If an actor like Saif Ali Khan can be attacked in the middle of the night in Bandra, which is considered one of Mumbai's safer areas, it raises serious questions about the safety of not just celebrities but the common people as well," Patole remarked.