No Arrest As Yet; Attack on Saif Ali Khan Exposes Lapses in Security in Mumbai?

Over 40 hours have passed since Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was attacked inside his Bandra home by an unidentified intruder during the wee hours of Thursday morning. The assailant stabbed the actor six times, inflicting two deep wounds near his spine. Khan underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital and is currently under close observation in the ICU. However, the perpetrator is yet to be arrested by the Mumbai police; the attack on Khan has exposed lapses in the city's security protocols.

Despite the severity of the crime, the Mumbai Police have failed to make significant progress in the investigation. This morning, a suspect was called in for questioning based on CCTV footage showing an individual leaving the staircase area of the building. However, after three hours of interrogation, the police concluded that the suspect had no connection to the case, raising questions about the efficiency of their investigation. The police have also recovered a piece of the knife that was used in the attack, which was removed during the surgery. It has now being sent for forensic analysis.

Furthermore, the police are reportedly not in procession of comprehensive CCTV coverage of the Bandra West area, where many high-profile celebrities and public figures, including cricketers, reside. This has raised doubts about the overall security and surveillance in one of Mumbai’s most posh neighborhoods.

Last year, Mumbai witnessed two major security lapses – including a shooting incident outside Salman Khan’s residence and a fatal attack on former minister Baba Siddiqui –however, owing to the circumstances there has allegedly been no significant increase in security measures across the city. Many across the city have pointed to the Mumbai Police's failure to swiftly apprehend the suspects in these cases, mounting to growing concerns about the safety of both ordinary citizens and VIPs.